Recent studies by the CDC are beginning quantify the true burden of Lyme Disease in the U.S. The discrepancy between the number of infections and known cases is large.
Tens of thousands of Lyme disease cases are reported in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the actual number of infections is likely several times higher. In fact, Lyme disease is now the most common vector-borne illness in the country. But nobody actually knows how common it is.I asked Dr. Alison Hinckley, a CDC epidemiologist, what the significance of these studies is for the ordinary person.
Let’s start with surveillance. Lyme disease has been a nationally notifiable condition since 1991. This means that healthcare providers and laboratories are required to report diagnosed cases to public health authorities. The CDC uses this surveillance data to understand how the disease is spreading, identify populations at risk and guide the development and evaluation of targeted prevention measures.
Historically, for a case to meet the surveillance definition, two criteria had to be satisfied. First, there had to be laboratory evidence of infection, such as positive serologic testing for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. Second, a healthcare provider was required to provide clinical information to confirm the diagnosis.
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