Lyme disease, a bacterial infection spread by deer ticks, is getting a heck of a boost in one of the nation’s hardest-hit areas and that should help everyone affected by this terrible disease.

Millions are being poured into a new laboratory and research facility that will focus on testing ticks and more studies on how the disease affects humans. Voters in Maine approved an $8 million facility that should be completed by 2017.

Maine residents are among the hardest hit by Lyme disease. According to this report, more than 1,000 cases have been reported annually the last four years — five times the number 10 years ago. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said a record 1,376 cases of Lyme disease were reported in 2013.

While Maine and other northeast states are hardest hit, Lyme disease affects thousands of people throughout the country. Better research on the disease, and how to diagnose and treat it, will be a plus for everyone.