Jennifer Mendoza
Research expert covering health, pharma and medtech
Lyme disease in the U.S. - Statistics & Facts
Lyme disease is caused by bacteria that are transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks. Although other diseases can also be transmitted through ticks, Lyme disease is by far the most prevalent tick-borne disease in the United States and is in fact the most common vector-borne disease in the country. Initial symptoms of Lyme disease are similar to that of the flu, making it difficult to diagnose, and include fever, headache, fatigue, and body aches. Lyme disease can be treated and cured with antibiotics if it is diagnosed early enough, but, if left untreated, symptoms can become more severe and can affect the heart, joints, brain and spinal cord. Lyme disease funding from the National Institutes for Health (NIH) has increased in recent years and reached a high of 50 million U.S. dollars in 2022, but dropped to 43 million U.S. dollars in 2023.
