AUGUSTA – The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has announced the winners of the 2020 Lyme Disease Awareness Month poster contest, which includes students from Spruce Mountain and Mt. Blue schools.
As part of observing Lyme Disease Awareness Month every May, Maine CDC holds a poster contest for Maine students in kindergarten through eighth grade to highlight the importance of awareness and prevention of diseases caused by ticks. This year, students designed posters on the theme “Tick Tock,” which reminds Mainers to slow down and take time to practice tick and tickborne disease prevention. Students illustrated at least one specific preventive method on the poster, such as: using an EPA-approved repellent, wearing protective clothing, performing daily tick checks, or using caution in tick-infested areas. Maine CDC received many wonderful submissions for the 2020 contest.
Maine CDC selected a winner from each of the three participating age groups: 2nd-3rd, 4th-5th, and 6th-8th grades. The winning posters are viewable on Maine CDC’s website (www.maine.gov/lyme [1]). Each winner received a Maine State Parks family day pass, a certificate, and tick-removal kits for their entire classroom.
Congratulations to the poster contest winners:
* Brady Reilly, 2nd Grade, Fruit Street School (Bangor)
* Mikenna Phillips, 5th Grade, Spruce Mountain Primary School (Livermore)
* Mariya Folsom, 6th Grade, Mt. Blue Middle School (Farmington)
* Honorable mention: Zoe Grooms, 5th Grade, Spruce Mountain Primary School (Livermore)
Maine CDC recognizes all participants and other Lyme Disease Awareness Month partners who have helped Maine CDC raise awareness of tickborne diseases.
Ticks are currently active in Maine. The following four strategies help to prevent exposure to ticks and the diseases they carry:
* Use caution in areas where ticks may be found. * Use an EPA-approved repellent such as: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and oil of lemon eucalyptus. * Wear light-colored clothing that covers the arms and legs and tuck pants into socks. * Perform tick checks daily and after any outdoor activity.
Health care providers reported at least 2,150 confirmed and probable Lyme disease cases to Maine CDC in 2019.
For more information on Lyme disease, and to view the 2020 winning posters and past poster submissions, visit www.maine.gov/lyme [1]/month.
TOP PHOTO: Mikenna Phillps poster (courtesy Maine CDC)
