Scientists at MIT are hoping to prevent Lyme disease on the Vineyard by releasing large numbers of genetically engineered mice into the wild. The project would still be years down the road.
As tick-borne diseases continue to be a source of growing public health concern on the Vineyard, a panel discussion convenes Wednesday to discuss a potential new approach to curbing Lyme and other infections.
With funding for the Island’s tick-borne illness reduction initiative soon to end, health agents and others face an uphill battle in stemming the advance of lone star ticks, which have gained a foothold.
There appears to be considerable confusion about ticks, the role of their different host animals and what can be reasonably be done to reduce the high incidence of Lyme disease.
Cape Pogue resident Donald Greenstein has been finding lone star ticks on his property for years, but never in their current numbers. Island biologist and tick expert Richard Johnson surveyed the property and said he found 30 lone star ticks with 1,000 feet.