Wednesday 3 August 2022 11:10 PM Tick-borne illnesses have increased 350% in rural America since 2007 trends now
Up to four times more Americans are catching Lyme disease than a decade-and-a-half ago, a study on insurance claims has suggested in another sign the illness is becoming more widespread.
Analysis by FAIR Health — owner of one of America's largest claims databases — revealed a 357 percent surge in applications linked to the tick-borne illness from 2007 to 2021 across rural areas. But there was also an uptick in towns and cities, where it rose by 65 percent over the same period.
Experts warned more people were catching Lyme disease more than ever before across the United States. But the uptick may also be driven by surging awareness of the 'invisible disease', thanks to high-profile cases in celebrities including singer Shania Twain and socialite Yolanda Hadid.
People who said they had recovered from the disease today called on Americans to 'take this seriously', adding that it could leave them suffering symptoms for years.
Analysis by FAIR Health looked through more than 36 billion private healthcare claims filed across most of America's 50 states
Yolanda Hadid (left) and Shania Twain (right) are among celebrities who have had Lyme disease. Experts say this may have raised awareness of the condition
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread through a tick bite. It causes a round rash and can trigger flu-like symptoms but usually gets better with antibiotics within weeks or months. Pictured: Stock of tick
For the analysis, experts at FAIR Health combed through more than 36 billion private healthcare claims from America's 50 states for all those mentioning Lyme disease.
They looked as those for antibiotics, and those for long-term symptoms including fatigue, muscle pain and confusion.
Doctors say patients can be left suffering after-effects of the illness for months, even when they receive treatment quickly.
