OWLS HEAD — The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has announced the winners of the 2014 Lyme Disease Awareness Month contest.

During May, Maine CDC held its fifth annual poster contest in conjunction with Maine schools, grades Kindergarten through 8, to highlight student's artistic talents as well as to encourage learning about Lyme disease prevention strategies. Students were asked to create posters with the theme "Tick Tock," with emphasis on the prompt recognition and removal of ticks. Posters also represented one or more of the four main ways to prevent Lyme disease using Maine CDC's No Ticks 4 ME approach:

1. Wear protective clothing 2. Use repellent 3. Perform daily tick checks 4. Use caution in tick infested areas.

The contest winners are:

Grace VanBuskirk, Grade 3, Owls Head Central School;  Katherine Freeman, Grade 5, Owls Head Central School;  Kailee Cox, Grade 6, Homeschooled.

"The posters submitted this year were well-done and eye-catching," said Dr. Sheila Pinette, Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. "This contest showcases the creativity of Maine students and is a unique way to integrate Lyme disease prevention education and art."

All posters received were displayed in the Maine CDC Offices in Augusta and rated by Maine CDC employees. Each winner received a Maine State Parks Family Day Pass and a certificate of recognition. Tick removal kits were also distributed to the winners and their classmates.

For more information on Lyme disease, or to view the 2014 winning posters, please go to http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/vector-borne/lyme/index.shtml