Maine CDC Encourages Tick Bite Prevention This Fall

Ticks remain active as tickborne disease numbers climb

AUGUSTA-- The Department of Health and Human Services' Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) reminds all Maine people and visitors to protect themselves from tick bites this fall.

Ticks remain active throughout the fall resulting in the number of tickborne diseases in Maine continuing to climb, with cases higher this October than at the same time last year for most tickborne diseases found in Maine.

Current year case counts are on track to break tickborne disease records again this year. Near real-time counts for anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Lyme disease are available on the Maine Tracking Network. As of October 15, 2025, the Maine CDC recorded:

• 3,569 cases of Lyme disease
• 1,255 cases of anaplasmosis
• 324 cases of babesiosis
• 26 cases of hard tick relapsing fever (HTRF)
• 1 case of Powassan

Deer ticks spread the germs that cause tickborne diseases in Maine and adult deer ticks are active in the fall from late September through late November. They can also emerge during winter whenever temperatures are above freezing. Deer ticks are commonly found in wooded, leafy, and shrubby areas, which may include areas around the yard.

The most common symptoms of tickborne disease include body aches, chills, fever, headache, and swollen lymph nodes. People who have Lyme disease may also find an expanding rash somewhere on their body. This rash can sometimes look like a bullseye, but not always. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to a health care provider. Mention any recent tick exposure.

The Maine CDC recommends taking these steps to limit exposure to ticks:

• T: Take and use an EPA-approved repellent. Use DEET, picaridin, IR3535 (Ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate), or oil of lemon eucalyptus on skin. Use permethrin on clothing only.
• I: Inspect your whole body for ticks daily and after any outdoor activities. Check family members and pets too.
• C: Cover your skin with light-colored long sleeve shirts and pants. Tuck pants into socks.
• K: Know when you are in tick habitat and take precautions in areas where ticks may live.
• S: Shower when you get home to help remove crawling ticks. Put clothes in the dryer on high heat for 15 minutes before washing to kill any ticks in your clothes.

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Tick Lab offers tick identification for free and tick testing to Maine residents for a $20 fee. Testing can take up to three days and should be used for surveillance purposes only, not for diagnosis. Finding a tick on you, even if it was attached, does not necessarily mean that it spread any germs to you. Find more information at ticks.umaine.edu.

To learn more about how to stay tick free, visit the Maine CDC website.