Borrelia burgdorferi and Lyme Disease (page 2)
(This chapter has 6 pages)
© Kenneth Todar, PhD
Incidence and Distribution of Lyme Disease
in the United States
Lyme disease has a wide distribution in northern temperate regions
of
the world. In the United States, the highest incidence occurs in the
Northeast,
from Massachusetts to Maryland and the North-central states, especially
Wisconsin and Minnesota.
In 2002, more than 23,000 cases of Lyme disease were reported in the
U.S., the highest number ever reported. This increase could be caused
by
an increase in human contact with infected ticks and enhanced reporting
of cases.
Ten states have consistently reported an incidence of Lyme disease
higher
than the national average: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island and Wisconsin. During 2003-2005, 64,382 Lyme disease cases were
reported to CDC, of which 59,770 cases (93%) were
reported from these 10 states. Similar data was reported in 2006 (see
map below).
Lyme disease cases by state,
2006. CDC.
