Western Mountains: February Meeting & Program

Topic: Lyme Disease and Tick Safety in Western Maryland 

Speaker: Dr. Rebekah Taylor, Associate Professor of Biology, Frostburg State University

Upon returning to western Maryland, Dr. Taylor was personally affected by the increase in Lyme disease in the area and became interested in developing a research program studying tick-borne disease. From their relative nonexistence 20 years ago, approximately 20% of ticks in western Maryland now carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, and other pathogens have been identified in these ticks as well. Anyone who spends time outdoors can be impacted by these findings, and Dr. Taylor’s goal is to inform the public about tick prevention. Dr. Taylor has embarked on a long-term regional tick collection project and encourages members of the community to submit specimens for her study. She can be reached for more information at rtaylor@frostburg.edu.

Rebekah Taylor is an Associate Professor of Biology at Frostburg State University and a Cumberland native. She is a graduate of Emory University in Atlanta, GA with a Ph.D. in Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis, where she studied the unique features of the immune system in the small intestine.  

This free program will begin promptly at 7:00 pm; the public is welcome to attend.

Directions: From I-68 take exit 33 (Braddock Rd & Midlothian Rd exit). Follow Braddock Road approximately 1.3 miles to stop sign. Turn left onto Park Avenue. Drive a short distance and turn left, following signs for the Compton Parking Lot.

No registration.