New Map Shows Lyme Disease Risk

PUTNAM COUNTY, N.Y. -- A recent map by the Center for Disease Control, which shows risks of Lyme Disease, highlights a high level of occurrences in the northeast, according to National Geographic.

The highest risk counties in the country includes Morris County, New Jersey, several counties in Pennsylvania, and one each in Delaware and Massachusetts.
Photo Credit: *File*

by Jason Bisnoff

07/27/2015 12:30 p.m.

This comes as little surprise considering that the disease is named for the place where it was first diagnosed in Lyme, Connecticut.

High awareness in the region comes due to the terrible side effects that come with Lyme and to other extents the similarly caused erlichiosis, anaplasmosis and babesiosis.

Older maps by the CDC pinpointed one spot per occurrence but the latest iteration shows the risk level of catching the disease, which causes arthritis and neurological problems, by county reports National Geographic.

The maps shows increases in cases. In 1993, 69 counties in the country qualified as high-risk areas. In 2012 there were 260 which is a 400% increase.

In 1993 high-risk counties were concentrated in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, and to a smaller extent western Wisconsin. The most recent data shows high-risk areas in 17 states and expanding, according to National Geographic.

Click here to read the full story at National Geographic.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Mahopac and receive free news updates.