Health
Lyme disease increasing
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 2, 2007
Reported cases of Lyme disease in the U.S. have more than doubled since 1991, when it became a nationally notifiable disease, according to a June 14 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ten states, primarily those in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and North-Central regions of the nation, account for about 93% of the cases.
The increase most likely reflects both a rise in actual cases and better recognition and reporting, according to a CDC medical epidemiologist.
Lyme disease is the most common of all the diseases in the United States transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks and fleas with approximately 20,000 cases reported each year.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/07/02/hlbf0702.htm.
