Lyme Disease Under-Ascertainment During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States: Retrospective Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a massive disruption in access to care and thus passive, hospital- and clinic-based surveillance programs. In 2020, the reported cases of Lyme disease were the lowest both across the United States and North Carolina in recent years. During this period, human contact patterns began to shift with higher rates of greenspace utilization and outdoor activities, putting more people into contact with potential vectors and associated vector-borne diseases. Lyme disease reporting relies on passive surveillance systems, which were likely disrupted by changes in health care-seeking behavior during the pandemic.

Objective

This study aimed to quantify the likely under-ascertainment of cases of Lyme disease during the COVID-19 pandemic in the U

SUBMITTER: Jones BS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11411844 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature