Minnesota Lyme Association

Why do we work so hard?

LYME DISEASE – THE BIG PICTURE

• Lyme disease is the fastest-growing vector-borne disease in the northern hemisphere. For 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded 30,000 surveillance cases in the US but total case numbers are unknown.
• Annual statistics report only a fraction of all cases. The CDC reports “surveillance cases” and the inclusion criteria for this group are very strict. This allows the CDC to track and compare cases across several parameters but it also means that many cases of Lyme disease are never counted. As stated on the CDC website, the surveillance criteria were never intended to be used as diagnostic criteria, nor were they meant to define the entire scope of Lyme disease.
• The CDC also recognizes that under-reporting is common, estimating that annual surveillance cases numbers are likely to be 10 times higher.
• Despite its stated intention, the CDC actually promotes a narrow definition of Lyme disease. The information it provides to physicians is limited in scope and ignores a large body of scientific research. Misinformed physicians under-diagnose Lyme disease on a grand scale.
• As documented in 4 National Institutes of Health studies, people with Lyme disease may endure great suffering. Symptoms are widespread and variable; they often worsen, leaving patients unable to attend school or work. Some problems may persist following treatment. The societal costs of Lyme-related disabilities are tremendous.

Get more details on our website: www.mnlyme.com