Change in Reporting Requirements Leads to Spike in Reported Cases
Health officials have revealed a staggering 70% increase in Lyme disease cases in the United States in 2022. While the rise in reported cases is alarming, experts clarify that it is not indicative of a significant surge in new infections, but rather a shift in reporting protocols. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recent report disclosed that reported cases soared past 62,000 this year, compared to an average of about 37,000 annually from 2017 to 2019.
Background on Lyme Disease
Lyme disease, the most prevalent tick-borne illness in the U.S., primarily affects regions in the Northeast, Midwest, and mid-Atlantic states. Despite an estimated 476,000 Americans being diagnosed with the disease annually, only a fraction of cases are formally reported to health authorities.
Shift in Reporting Procedure
The change in reporting guidelines, implemented in 2022, streamlined the process by mandating that only a positive lab test is required for case notification in high-incidence states. In the preceding years, health departments used to conduct extensive follow-ups with healthcare providers to collect additional patient data. However, reporting activities dwindled in 2020 and 2021 as health department resources were redirected towards combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
The surge in reported cases may also be attributed to the adoption of more accurate and sensitive testing methods. While this factor could have contributed to the uptick, CDC officials emphasize that it is too early to draw definitive conclusions about the underlying causes of the spike.