New Lyme disease estimate: 300,000 cases a year

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20130819/LIVEWELL08/308199967#new-lyme-disease-estimate-300-000-cases-a-year

By MIKE STOBBE August 19, 2013

ATLANTA (AP) - Lyme disease is about 10 times more common than previously reported, health officials said Monday.

As many as 300,000 Americans are actually diagnosed with Lyme disease each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced.

Usually, only 20,000 to 30,000 illnesses are reported each year. For many years, CDC officials have known that many doctors don't report every case and that the true count was probably much higher.

The new figure is the CDC's most comprehensive attempt at a better estimate. The number comes from a survey of seven national laboratories, a national patient survey and a review of insurance information.

FULL story at link.