Pennsylvania has reported the most Lyme disease cases for ten consecutive years and in 2016, while not over yet, has topped 12,000 cases, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data.
Through Dec. 24, the Keystone State has seen 12,092 cases (provisional), the most reported.
Nationally, 31,926 provisional cases have been reported to CDC. Following Pennsylvania is New York and NYC with 4,002 cases, New Jersey (3,850), Wisconsin (1,868) and Maryland (1,717).
Each year, more than 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to CDC, making it the most commonly reported tick-borne illness in the United States.
However, CDC estimates indicate that the number of Americans diagnosed with Lyme disease each year is around 300,000, ten times higher than the yearly reported number.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is often transmitted through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick, also known as a deer tick.
Symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, a bull’s eye rash may appear, and other symptoms that can be mistaken for viral infections, such as influenza or infectious mononucleosis. Joint pain can be mistaken for other types of arthritis, such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), and neurologic signs of Lyme disease can mimic those caused by other conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
When detected early, Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics. Left untreated, the disease can spread to the joints, heart and nervous system.
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Twenty years in and still unable to get needed treatment in Denver Colorado Metro Area. When will CDC and IDSA stop the madness? Doctors here are afraid to treat Lyme patients for fear of retaliation form IDSA leading to loss of medical license. I headed into multi organ failure, accused ER doctor of discharging me to a painful death rather then he advocate for a very ill patient; his face turned red out of embarrassment as he stared at his feet and I was forced to walk out the ER door. Have been back twice since for possible renal failure and they still ignore the pleas; they simply state that “it is a shame that Lyme treatment has become so controversial, why don’t you tell me what brought you to the ER today?”
It’s the “Stepford Doctors”, all following the BS while more patients suffer needlessly, Sadly, I’ve become the “Stepford Patient”, too sick to fight any more, I’ve been in pain for far too long, I’m ready.
Here’s an excellent analysis that highlights gross mismanagement and lack of accountability of CDC’s program for Lyme disease.
CDC Evades Accountability in Lyme Epidemic
http://tinyurl.com/CDCEvades
Here’s an excellent analysis that highlights gross mismanagement and lack of accountability of CDC’s program for Lyme disease.
CDC Evades Accountability in Lyme Epidemic
http://tinyurl.com/CDCEvades