According to health officials, there has been a 70% increase in reported cases of Lyme disease in the United States in 2022. However, this rise is not necessarily indicative of a significant increase in new infections, but rather a result of changes in reporting procedures.

According to a report released on Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of reported cases exceeded 62,000 in 2022. This is an increase from the average of 37,000 cases per year between 2017 and 2019. The report also stated that the numbers for 2023 will be made available later this year.

Lyme disease is the prevalent infection caused by tick bites in the United States, primarily found in the Northeast, Midwest, and mid-Atlantic regions.

Approximately 476,000 individuals in the United States receive a diagnosis of this condition annually, however, only a small portion is officially documented.

In the past, health departments would receive favorable lab results and then follow up with doctor’s offices to acquire further details about the patients. However, due to the focus on COVID-19, reporting has decreased significantly in 2020 and 2021 for health department employees.

From 2022 onwards, a positive lab test will suffice for reporting cases in high-risk states. While there is a possibility that the use of improved and more accurate testing methods may have played a role in the rise, it is still too soon to determine, according to CDC officials.

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The Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group provides support to the Associated Press Health and Science Department. The AP is responsible for all content.