PORTLAND, Maine — Doctors in Maine are reporting a high number of tick-borne diseases this year.
The Portland Press Herald reports that the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has tracked 103 cases of the disease anaplasmosis so far this year. That is already more than the 94 cases reported for all of 2013.
Babesiosis, another tick-borne disease, is also trending upward. So far in 2014 there have been 20 reported cases, compared with 36 for all of last year.
The numbers for Lyme disease, the most common tick-related illness, aren't up, although that could change. Through July there were 552 reported cases, compared with 1,376 for 2013.
The diseases may be fatal in those with compromised immune system if not treated promptly with antibiotics.