"Surveillance Method Change Leads to 70% Increase in US Lyme Disease Cases"

A new surveillance method for tracking Lyme disease in the US has led to a significant spike in reported cases, with over 62,000 cases in 2022, nearly a 70% increase from previous years. However, the CDC suggests that this spike may be due to changes in surveillance methods rather than an actual increase in disease risk. The new methodology allows high-incidence jurisdictions to report cases based solely on laboratory evidence, potentially capturing more cases but creating challenges for tracking historical trends. Despite the reported cases, the estimated number of total Lyme disease diagnoses in the US is about 476,000 annually. Vector-borne diseases, including Lyme disease, are a growing public health threat, and the US Department of Health and Human Services has launched a national strategy to prevent and control these diseases.