The CDC began surveillance for Lyme disease in
1982 and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE)
designated Lyme disease as a nationally notifiable disease in
January 1991.
Reports of Lyme disease have increased steadily
since 1982. This data is based on reporting only those cases that
meet the CDC's Lyme disease surveillance criteria.
The Center for Disease Control estimates the actual number of
cases of Lyme disease may be 10 times higher.
Source: Dutchess County Health Dept., Center for Disease Control
