Whitman resident Melissa Kerins began the South Shore Lyme Disease Support Group in October of 2007 after she had been diagnosed with the disease.

Kerins would like the community to be aware that ticks are active at 35 degrees or warmer and that now that the temperatures are up, the ticks are out. May has been named Lyme disease awareness month.

Lyme disease is growing five times faster than AIDS, West Nile and the Avian Flu combined, she said.

“In Whitman in 2007 there were 25 cases reported,” Kerins said, adding that only 10 percent of cases are reported.

The Plymouth County averages two or more cases, she said.

Lyme disease is caused by bacteria similar to syphilis and is most commonly found in nymph deer ticks, she said.

When Kerins was diagnosed with Lyme disease in May 2007, she was looking for a support group, but she found there wasn’t one locally –– the closest groups were either on the Cape or north of Boston.

“I wanted to surround myself with people who knew how I felt,” she said. “I created the group in October 2007, because I was looking for help myself.”

Kerins was a veterinarian technician for 10 years before she got sick.

“I believe I was infected by the animals,” she said. “I don’t recall having a tick bite or a rash.”

Kerins has been disabled by Lyme disease. She said that Lyme disease is often hard for doctors to diagnose because they may not be looking for it, but could be looking for something else with similar symptoms.

The South Shore Support Group meets the first Monday of the month at the Whitman Public Library at 6:30 p.m. The turnout varies from month to month depending on who feels up to coming, Kerins said. The 20 members are from all over the South Shore. Upcoming meetings will be on May 4 and June 1.

Since May is Lyme disease awareness month there will be a guest speaker from Bear Animal Health. The representative will be presenting information on Lyme disease, ticks and how to protect one’s pets.

Kerins said is important to make sure to use good quality flee anti-tick medications for pets.

“Our animals act as sentinels. If your dog has it, then it could mean you’re at risk,” she said. When a dog comes down with Lyme disease it means it is in that area.

Warning signs for pets with Lyme disease include: limping, swollen joints, lack of appetite and fever.

“You can’t catch Lyme disease from petting a dog, because it is not communicable,” Kerins said. “However, a pet can carry a tick inside the house if you don’t treat them properly.”

The support group will have a representative from IGenX on June 1. The representative will talk about blood testing for Lyme.

“If you get the bull’s eye rash, that is diagnostic of Lyme disease, but blood tests can also be used,” Kerins said.

Kerins said that if Lyme disease is caught early it can be cured, but if not, it can be a debilitating illness.

“We’d like to see people who have been bitten by a tick go on antibiotics for four to six weeks, but I’m not a doctor, but that would be ideal.”

Kerins said that if you do find a tick on you it is important not to burn the tick off or squish them. She said to pull them out with tweezers.

“Lyme can be a debilitating illness when left untreated,” she said. “It is not something that is hard to catch and easy to cure. It can be a tough one and there isn’t a lot of understanding about the illness.”

Kerins said that through the support group she really tries to educate people.

“I want people to learn about Lyme and protect themselves,” she said. “Knowledge is power.”

Kerins said that right now there are no programs in Whitman that deal with ticks other than the support group that is trying to educate the population.