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The hot summer of New England could help prevent ticks carrying Lyme disease.
The northeastern states – which are among the worst for Lyme in the US, pose a risk to residents and vacationers – and continue to add up to the number of Lyme cases in summer, and there will likely be more to l & # 39; fall. But preliminary indicators show that the disease is easing and public health authorities are finding fewer deer ticks, officials and researchers said.
In Maine, Lyme cases experienced steady annual growth, with a jump of 23% to over 1,850 last year. But the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said Lyme cases for May, June and July were below long-term averages. These are major months for the incidence of the disease.
Arachnids find it harder to survive in hot, dry weather, said Charles Lubelczyk, a field biologist with the Maine Medical Center Research Institute in Scarborough, Maine. Maine had a hot summer, with
Portland is experiencing the hottest August ever recorded and precipitation has been below normal in many places.
"They are not as active as they normally would be. This can result in fewer risks for some people, "said Lubelczyk. "This is also reported in other parts of New England."
Ticks may not be dead because they have the ability to calm down and survive in less than ideal conditions, Lubelczyk said. States will have a better idea after the fall, which can also be a bad season for Lyme infections.
But this summer, Connecticut communities in Vermont are reporting fewer ticks. New Hampshire registered more than 1,800 cases last year and about 400 only in mid-year.
It's possible the drought at the end of last summer killed many ticks that should have appeared in the spring, said Sam Telford III, Professor of Infectious Diseases and Global Health at Tufts University.
Telford added that factors other than heat probably played a role in reducing Lyme cases. Some areas experienced heavy rains, which meant that ticks were not looking for hosts for a blood meal, he added.
"I've only heard news from Nantucket, and it's a very good indicator, because they're still up, and when they say things are down, it's interesting," Telford said. "With this drought last year, I thought we would probably not have many years this year, and the real moisture in early summer might have brought another punch."
Lyme disease follows a tick bite and can cause symptoms such as joint pain, weakness, and fatigue. Some scientists have suggested that warming temperatures could ultimately increase the prevalence of the disease. Alan Eaton, Professor of Entomology Extension Emeritus at the University of New Hampshire, said it is unlikely that the number of ticks will change much from summer to summer.
Vermont officials said it was too early to say what their country's final numbers will be for 2018. Lyme disease cases are often reported several months after they appear, and many more cases will emerge in the fall.
However, the number of Lyme disease investigations in the state so far suggests that cases will be declining, said Bradley Tompkins, epidemiologist and program chief at the Vermont Department of Health.
"Right now, we have a lot less investigation of Lyme disease than at the same time last year. It is therefore likely that Vermont will see fewer cases of Lyme disease this year, "he said.
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