The state of Maine is reminding residents that, if they get bitten by a tick, they can collect the arachnid and send it for testing.
State officials say the testing can show whether the person bitten by the tick was exposed to tick-borne diseases.
The UMaine Cooperative Extension Tick Lab tests for Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesia. The tests are $15 per tick for Maine residents.
The Maine Department of Labor says the summer is a time of year when residents have to be especially mindful of ticks. That’s especially true for people who work outside.
Health care providers reported more than 1,400 confirmed and probable Lyme cases to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention last year. It was the first year-over-year drop since 2015.
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