Pomperaug Health District Records Increase in Ticks Testing Positive for Lyme Disease

The Pomperaug District Department of Health accepts deer ticks from Health District residents for Lyme disease testing. In order to be tested, the deer ticks must be engorged. An analysis of the results for the last 5 years shows an increase in the prevalence of Lyme disease found in testable deer ticks. In 2012, approximately 8% of the “testable” ticks were positive for Lyme disease. For the same time period in 2017, 96 ticks were tested, of which 45% were positive for Lyme disease.

A full report of the deer tick Lyme disease testing program for the years 2012-2017 can be found on our website at www.pddh.org. Deer ticks can be brought to the PPDH main office at 77 Main Street South, Suite 205 in Southbury. For a $5.00 fee, deer ticks will be sent to the CT Agricultural Experiment Station to be tested for Lyme disease and babesiosis.