What Percentage of Ticks in Massachusetts Carry Lyme Disease?

There is a great resource we can use to find out if the ticks we discover are carrying diseases. With Lyme disease being at epidemic levels and the increase in rare tick-borne disease such as Powassan, knowing is a benefit to public health statewide. It’s called Tick Report, and it’s a part of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst’s College of Natural Sciences. Mail them your tick in a plastic bag along with $50, and in three days they will tell you what pathogens your tick carries. Can it be that simple? Apparently, it can!

WHAT ARE THE ODDS A DEER TICK IN MASSACHUSETTS IS CARRYING LYME?

Not only does Tick Report test your tick, but it also posts and shares the information for anyone to follow. If you go here you can enter a date range, state or zip code, and the type of tick or pathogen you are looking for; Tick Report will give you the percentage of ticks that have tested positive. So back to our original question: What percentage of ticks in Massachusetts are carrying Lyme? Tick report shows that of the ones tested so far in 2017, at the time we are writing this, 35.59% were positive for Lyme disease (Borrelia general species). You MUST keep in mind. However, this is only a sampling, not an exact measure. The more ticks that UMass can test, the more accurate the information. 

At Mosquito Squad of Central Massachusetts and Mosquito Squad of the North Shore, we are committed to keeping you informed about all tick and mosquito-borne illnesses, but especially Lyme disease. The North East has the highest concentration of Lyme in the country and the more we all know, the better we can fight against and prevent Lyme disease. We urge you to use this tool and send in ticks to be tested. This opportunity for shared information is an opportunity for better protection.Please call us today with any questions you have.