SUMNER – Three teachers at Hartford-Sumner Elementary school have contracted Lyme disease over the years. Two were cured with antibiotics and the third is under treatment, they said, asking not to be identified.

Dr. Dora Mills, head of the state Bureau of Health, cautions people to be alert while enjoying the outdoors.

This is especially important between the months of May through August when the risk of deer tick bites will be at its height, she said.

Mills said her mantra is “Clean Up, Cover Up and Check Daily.”

People should clean up unnecessary standing water, rain gutters, leaf litter, brush and logs to reduce tick and mosquito habitats. Cover up by wearing long-sleeve shirts and long pants and using an EPA-registered repellent. Check your skin and your children’s skin daily after being outside.

There has been a 100 percent increase in Lyme disease in Maine since 2006, according to Mills. Although 90 percent of reported cases come from the Midcoast region, cases in Oxford County have increased from one in 2006 to 20 in 2008. Androscoggin County cases have increased from 10 in 2006 to 35 cases in 2008.

“Lyme disease is preventable if the tick is removed within 24 to 36 hours, according to Mills. The most common early symptom is an expanding red rash that occurs at the site of the tick bite. Most people recover after receiving appropriate treatment such as antibiotics, she said.