Northern New England is apparently enjoying a moderate season for Lyme disease, partly because of the summer’s dry weather, but health officials warned Friday that disease-carrying ticks are still crawling around out there.

Lyme disease in Maine reached a record last year of nearly 1,400 cases. The state’s reported 948 cases as of Oct. 19 this year, compared to 1,283 through October last year.

But the adult deer tick population peaks in the fall, and Maine is expecting to see more Lyme disease cases, said Sara Robinson, a state epidemiologist. She said Maine also is still working to confirm some suspected Lyme cases from earlier this year.

Field biologist Charles Lubelczyk of the Maine Medical Center Research Institute said ticks were less active this summer than last partly because of the dry weather. But he said they remain a threat until the temperature drops below freezing, and it’s important to take precautions, such as wearing repellent and protective clothing.

“The big challenge that we’ve got is getting people to recognize that you’ve got to adjust your behavior,” Lubelczyk said. “If you’re living in coastal Maine, they’re there.”

Elizabeth Daly, infectious disease surveillance chief for New Hampshire, said the state has received about 10 percent fewer reports of Lyme disease so far this year compared to the same time period last year. The state also experienced a drop in Lyme disease cases between 2013 and 2014.

In Vermont, officials expect the number of Lyme disease cases will be between 522 and the 2013 high of 893. Vermont counted 599 cases total last year.

“We tend to see a lot of cases happen in June and July,” said Bradley Tompkins, a health surveillance epidemiologist.

Lubelczyk cautioned that the number of reported cases of Lyme disease is likely only a fraction of the total.

Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium and transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. The symptoms include headache, fever and joint pain. In advanced stages, the disease can cause muscle weakness, numbness and heart problems.

Associated Press writers Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, and Lisa Rathke in Montpelier, Vermont, contributed to this report.