Why Is This Important?

Lyme disease is primarily caused by bacteria called ''Borrelia burgdorferi'' and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks (or deer ticks, ''Ixodes scapularis''). Typical symptoms include chills, fever, bull's-eye rash, headache, and muscle pain. Lyme disease affects the central nervous system, heart, and joints in its advanced stages.

Definition

Incidence (new cases) of Lyme disease Data were captured by county of residence, not county of exposure.

Data Notes

Data Sources

• Communicable Disease Reporting and Surveillance System (CRDSS), Communicable Disease Service, New Jersey Department of Health
  (http://www.nj.gov/health/cd/reporting/cdrss/)
• Population Estimates, State Data Center, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
  (https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/demographics/population-household-estimates/)

How the Measure is Calculated

• Numerator:

  Number of Lyme disease cases reported to the New Jersey Department of Health

• Denominator:

  Estimated number of persons in the population

Health Topic Pages Related to: Lyme Disease Incidence

• Environment: Climate Change
• Infectious and Communicable Diseases