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Reducing Tick-Borne Disease Risk in the Agricultural Community

A Study of Tick Reduction Strategies on VT Farms

In 2019, Vermont had the highest incidence of Lyme disease in the US.

About
75%
of people diagnosed with Lyme disease do not recall being biten.
It is estimated that there are
476,000
new cases of Lyme disease every year in the US.

Vermont has had the highest incidence of anaplasmosis in the US since 2015.

Using permethrin on your socks and shoes makes you
74X
less likely to be bitten by a tick.
If you can safely remove a tick within
24
hours, you can greatly reduce your chances of getting Lyme disease.

Project Description

Project Area

This project’s overarching goal is to reduce the occupational risk of tick-borne disease exposure in agricultural workers in Vermont. This pilot project will work with dairy and livestock workers in Southern Vermont. To achieve this goal, we have two aims. The first is to hold “Tick Talks” to discuss ticks and tick-borne diseases with agricultural workers. We will offer some education and hope to learn from agricultural workers what prevention methods they already use, what has worked for them, what sort of prevention methods they want to see, and how they deal with ticks on their farms. The second aim is to conduct a randomized control trial using Thermacell Tick Control Tubes in critical areas around farms (farmhouses and barns) to assess their effect on tick numbers and tick encounters with workers.

Tick Talk Logo, in the style of TikTok, the social media platform
Thermacell Tick Control Tube
Map of Vermont, with our study area of Southern VT highlighted

Project Goals

To reduce the occupational risk of tick-borne disease exposure in agricultural workers

To better understand agricultural workers’ awareness and perceptions of tick-borne diseases

To determine the effect of Thermacell Tick Control Tubes on tick numbers and reported tick encounters in agricultural workers

Meet our Team

Dr. Mandy Roome

Amanda Roome, PhD

Principle Investigator

Email Mandy

Madeleine Zenir, Research Coordinator

Madeleine Zenir

Research Coordinator

Email Madeleine