Shift in Reporting Requirements Leads to Sharp Increase
NEW YORK – The number of Lyme disease cases in the United States soared by almost 70% in 2022, but health officials clarify that the spike is not attributed to a significant rise in new infections. Rather, the surge is a result of changes in reporting protocols. Reported cases surpassed 62,000 this year, a stark contrast to the average of about 37,000 cases annually between 2017 and 2019, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday.
Lyme disease, the most prevalent tick-borne illness in the country, is predominantly found in the Northeast, Midwest, and mid-Atlantic regions. Despite an estimated 476,000 Americans being diagnosed with the disease each year, only a fraction of cases are officially reported.
New Reporting Criteria
The traditional process involved health departments receiving positive lab results and then conducting follow-ups with healthcare providers to gather additional patient information. However, reporting saw a decline in 2020 and 2021 as health department resources were primarily focused on combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commencing in 2022, the revised reporting framework mandates that cases, particularly in high-incidence states, can be reported solely based on a positive lab test. While the increase in reported cases may be partly influenced by the use of more advanced and sensitive testing methods, CDC officials caution that it is premature to draw definitive conclusions.
Numbers for 2023 are anticipated to be disclosed later this year, shedding further light on the evolving landscape of Lyme disease surveillance in the United States.
