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    Lyme Disease Outlook 2023: What to Expect & How to Prepare

    June 27, 2023 | Admin

    tick crawling on a yellow flower
    GIF showing an outbreak of lyme disease in the USA

    *Updated April 20, 2022
    *COVID impacted Lyme disease reporting in 2020/2021

    Each year, approximately 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the CDC by state health departments. As Lyme disease continues to wreak havoc on Americans, especially those in the North East, we examine the growth of the outbreak in the U.S. since 2010, states with an uptick in cases and those that are most at risk to the spread of Lyme disease.

    This said, as stated by the CDC, “There is no way of knowing exactly how many people get Lyme disease.  A recently released estimate based on insurance records suggests that each year approximately 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease. This number is likely an overestimate of actual infections because patients are sometimes treated presumptively in medical practice”

    Since the early 2000’s national and state health departments have been actively tracking Lyme disease cases. Statistics seem to show that Lyme disease continues to build each year and spread to new areas of the United States. What was once an illness seen in heavily wooded areas of the New England region has now spread South and West seemingly gaining a foothold in almost every state. States and regions near to the Northeast U.S. have the largest increase in cases, but now, even Midwestern states are reporting Lyme disease in their areas.

    What to Expect in 2023

    Lyme disease is a bacterial infection you get from the bite of an infected tick and if not treated effectively, it can cause great pain and illness to someone. As we enter the 2023 tick season, Dr. Sunjya Schweig, founder of the California Center for Functional Medicine, stated that  “From what we are seeing so far, there has been an increase in tick bites in the United States this year and therefore we can assume there would be more tick-borne infections”. Because warmer, shorter winters from climate change have played a role in the increase of tick-borne illnesses and this again is a reason why case numbers continue to rise.

    State, Cities and Populations Most Affected By Lyme Disease

    When looking at data from the CDC, we can see that Lyme disease is most prevalent in the Northeast of the U.S. but over the past few years, it has started to spread Northwest And South. In the table below, you’ll notice 11 states with the highest reported cases along with an incidence rate. The incidence rate is the number of cases per 100,000 people.

    Pennsylvania continues to lead the U.S. in the largest number of reported cases each year. However, Maine reports 121 cases per 100,000 people beating out the rest of the U.S. Second closest is Vermont reporting 113 cases per 100,000.

    There are only 3 states in the Northeast region that have reported a drop in cases; Connecticut (-33%), Wisconsin (-13) and Delaware (-2%). However, six Northeastern states reported large increases in the total number of cases during this ten-year period.

    • Vermont has the largest increase of cases in all states seeing a rise of 744%
    • Rhode Island cases increased by 292%
    • Maine cases increased by 288%
    • Pennsylvania cases increased by 173%
    • New Hampshire cases increased by 106%
    • New York cases increased by 78%

    The table below showcases the growth of Lyme disease in 12 Northeastern states from 2010-2019. 

    State20102011201220132014201520162017201820192019 incidence% Change 2010-2019
    Connecticut196420041653211117191873123813811268123322.3-33%
    Delaware65676750740034133439142150564163.6-2%
    Maine559801885112711699931151142411112167121.2288%
    Maryland11639381113801957124912741194894141713.313%
    Minnesota129311859111431896117413041408950152816.218%
    New Hampshire83088710021324622436691956927171081.3106%
    New Jersey3320339827322785258939323332362928763619279%
    New York238531182044351228533252262335022446424314.678%
    Pennsylvania329847394146498164707351898892507920899852.8173%
    Rhode Island11511113344457056453559566197149.7744%
    Vermont2714763866744424914886463481064113.1292%
    Virginia9117568059259761102976104174411999.232%
    Wisconsin25052408136814479911309150417941121217820.9-13%
    Total Lyme
    Disease Cases
    19,27021,58817,68521,96220,59524,06024,49527,24121,771230,97861%
    Lyme Disease Cases from 2010-2019
    Data Sourced from CDC

    Most Common Months of Confirmed Cases

    Lyme disease season starts in March and extends throughout September. Reported cases start coming in the spring as warmer weather moves into the states. However, over 54% of the total Lyme disease cases are reported in June and July. As the warmer months subside, cases start dropping along with the temperature which is why now is the best time to prepare.

    Image Source: CDC Lyme Disease Graphs
    Month of Disease Onset# of Cases Reported
    January4,478
    February3,910
    March5,105
    April7,739
    May19,206
    June61,069
    July62,519
    August25,443
    September13,989
    October12,335
    November7,493
    December4,259
    Data Sourced from CDC

    2023 Lyme Disease Season Expert Answers

    Best Value Schools reached out to the Lyme Disease community and asked a number of experts for their thoughts about the 2022 Lyme Disease Season.

    What is your prediction for the 2023 Lyme Disease Spring and Summer seasons?

    Megan Wede, the owner of Done Right Pest Solution who resides in Minnesota, another state ravaged by Lyme disease, stated that “Because last year was a dry year, I expect this year to be wetter, which means there will be more mosquitoes. Because ticks can survive winters underground, in underbrush, and by boring under tree bark, they were able to miss the freeze-thaw cycles that were prevalent in the Midwest this year. Other insects woke up early and died. I predict this year to be a worse tick year than last year.

    How do you minimize the likelihood of a tick bite?

    Dr. Rudolf Probst, a Medical Doctor specializing in immunology, gynecology, internal medicine and surgery lists these ways that you can reduce your chances of a tick bite and thus lyme disease. 

    • Cover yourself up with long-sleeved shirt, boots, long pants and tuck in your pants in your boots
    • Do not walk through long grass and woods
    • Check your pets for ticks
    • Check your clothes for ticks
    • Use insect repellent
    • Get rid of a tick as soon as you spot one
    • Shower immediately after coming from outside
    • Wear light clothing in order to spot ticks.

    Megan Wede, In her article, “How to Prevent Ticks in Your Yard,” explains some simple ways homeowners can prevent ticks:

    • If you have a wooded area next to your property, consider having any patio, furniture, or active area of your yard at least 3 feet away.
    • Add in some wood chips or gravel to close the distance between the woods and your yard.
    • Walk your property with your pest control expert to learn of key areas where ticks can breed in your yard.
    • Limit your activity in those areas and have the pest control expert treat those areas well.

    Is it important to remove a tick quickly & what are the best ways to remove a tick?

    Diane Vukovic, an outdoors expert and owner of Mom Goes Camping, has great experience removing ticks and states that  “The chances of getting Lyme disease are very low if the tick is removed within 24 hours of attaching itself. However, it’s important that the tick is removed properly. Any method which irritates the tick – such as squeezing it, putting mint oil on top of it, or touching it with a hot match – increases the chances that the tick will regurgitate its stomach contents into the skin and transfer the Lyme disease bacteria. 

    The safest way to remove a tick is with tweezers with pointy ends, such as ones used for removing ingrown hairs. The point end makes it easier to grab the tick by its mouthparts. Avoid using tweezers with flat tips because you might accidentally squeeze the tick’s body. I always keep a pair of pointy tweezers in my hiking first aid kit. Because I’m outdoors so often and don’t always have my first aid kit with me, I’ve even started carrying a mini pair of tweezers with me in my wallet. This ensures that I can get ticks off immediately and safely.”

    How can college students in rural, densely populated Lyme disease areas and campuses prepare?

    Dr. Schweig states that  “College students should absolutely know how to protect themselves from tick bites. It is definitely possible to get a tick bite and contract a tick infection while on a college campus. Ticks are often carried on to campus by squirrels, birds and rodents. Many will lay on campus lawns/parks  and hang out with friends but it’s good to do it on a blanket or a hammock and to be sure to wear repellent and do tick checks afterwards”.

    How to Prepare for Lyme Disease Season

    Warmer weather is arriving and longer summer nights are ahead of us. But before they arrive, now is the best time to prepare for Lyme disease season. Simply being aware that this time of year is when ticks are likely to strike will ensure you remain conscious of any bites. 

    Be sure to keep bug repellent nearby at home and take it with you when you travel, especially if you are going camping or to woodland areas. Carrying small tweezers will also give you the best chance of removing a tick if one is to bite you or someone you are with. The Pennsylvania Medical Society has created this infographic to give you tips on how to protect yourself and what to do if you’ve been bitten.

    Thank you to the Pennsylvania Medical Society for this wonderful infographic.

    Lyme Disease Useful Resources

    Lyme disease is not something to mess around with. This section was created to provide you with some helpful resources you can use to learn more about identifying ticks, removing ticks and even getting your tick tested for Lyme disease.

    Tick Identification: https://www.ticklab.org/tick-identification

    Identify the Tick Challenge Game: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/vector-borne/lyme/game/index.shtml

    Tick Removal: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/removal/index.html

    Lyme Disease Treatments: https://www.holisticbiospa.com/lyme-disease-treatments-mexico/

    What Causes Lyme Disease? A Nurse Practitioner’s Guide – Bradley University Online

    Test My Tick: https://www.ticklab.org/test-my-tick

    More Information About Lyme Disease in Your Region

    National

    National CDC Lyme Disease Center

    Connecticut

    Connecticut Lyme Disease Information | CT.gov

    Delaware

    Delaware Lyme Disease Information | Delaware.gov

    Maine

    Maine Lyme Disease Information | Maine.gov

    Tickborne Diseases | MainePublicHealth.gov

    Maryland

    Maryland Lyme Disease Information | Maryland.gov

    Anne Arundel County Lyme Disease Info | AAHealth.org

    Calvert County Lyme Disease Info | CalvertHealth.org

    Hartford County Lyme Disease Info | Hartford County Health

    Minnesota

    Minnesota Lyme Disease Information | Minnesota Department of Health

    High-Risk Areas for Tickborne Diseases in Minnesota | state.mn.us

    Lyme Disease 101 | Minnesota Lyme Association

    New Hampshire

    Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Disease Information | NH.gov

    Tick Free New Hampshire | TickFreeNH.org

    Tick Season: What To Do If You’ve Been Bitten | New Hampshire Public Radio 

    New Jersey

    New Jersey Lyme Disease Information | NJ.gov

    Lyme Disease Frequently Asked Questions | NJ Department of Health

    Comprehensive Care for Lyme Disease | StFrancisMedical.org

    New York

    Lyme Disease and Other Diseases Carried by Ticks | NY.gov

    Tick & Lyme Disease Prevention | NYSenate.gov

    NYC Lyme Disease | NYC.gov

    Erie County Lyme Disease Info | Erie.gov

    Orange County Lyme Disease Info | OrangeCountyGov.com

    Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania Lyme Disease Information | Pennsylvania Department of Health

    Pennsylvania Lyme Resource Network | PALyme.org

    Montgomery County Lyme Disease Info | Montcopa.org

    Chester County Lyme Disease Info | Chesco.org

    Cumberland Country Lyme Disease Info | CCPA.net

    Rhode Island

    Rhode Island Lyme Disease Information | RI Department of Health

    Jamestown Tick Talk | JamestownRI.gov

    Lyme Center of New England | LymeCenterNE.com

    Vermont

    Vermont Lyme Disease Information | HealthVermont.gov

    Vermont Tick Tracker | HealthVermont.gov

    Supporting Vermonters Affected by Lyme | VTLyme.org

    Milton Township Lyme Disease Info | MiltonVT.gov

    Virginia

    Virginia Lyme Disease Information | Virginia.gov

    Loudoun County Lyme Disease Info | Loudoun.gov

    Fairfax County Lyme Disease Info | FairfaxCounty.gov

    Henrico County Tick-borne Diseases in Virginia | Henrico.us

    Arlington County Lyme Disease Info | ArlingtonVA.us

    Wisconsin

    Lyme Disease in Wisconsin | Wisconsin.gov

    Calumet County Lyme Disease Info | Calumet.wi.us

    Lincoln County Lyme Disease Info | Lincoln.wi.us

    Ticks & Lyme Disease Devil’s Lake State Park | DevilsLakeWisconsin.com

    With tick season upon us, we are hopeful this guide will serve as a reminder on the danger of Lyme disease, and provide you some options as to how to reduce your risk of contracting the disease. 

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