Economic Burden of Reported Lyme Disease in High-Incidence Areas, United States, 2014–2016

June 14, 2022

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/28/6/21-1335_article

Sarah A. HookComments to Author , Seonghye Jeon, Sara A. Niesobecki, AmberJean P. Hansen, James I. Meek, Jenna K.H. Bjork, Franny M. Dorr, Heather J. Rutz, Katherine A. Feldman, Jennifer L. White, P. Bryon Backenson, Manjunath B. Shankar, Martin I. Meltzer, and Alison F. Hinckley
 
Author affiliations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA (S.A. Hook, A.F. Hinckley); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (S. Jeon, M.B. Shankar, M.I. Meltzer); Connecticut Emerging Infections Program, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA (S.A. Niesobecki, A.P. Hansen, J.I. Meek); Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA (J.K.H. Bjork, F.M. Dorr); Maryland Department of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA (H.J. Rutz, K.A. Feldman); New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA (J.L. White, P.B. Backenson)

Cite This Article

Abstract

Approximately 476,000 cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed in the United States annually, yet comprehensive economic evaluations are lacking. In a prospective study among reported cases in Lyme disease–endemic states, we estimated the total patient cost and total societal cost of the disease. In addition, we evaluated disease and demographic factors associated with total societal cost. Participants had a mean patient cost of ≈$1,200 (median $240) and a mean societal cost of ≈$2,000 (median $700). Patients with confirmed disseminated disease or probable disease had approximately double the societal cost of those with confirmed localized disease. The annual, aggregate cost of diagnosed Lyme disease could be $345–968 million (2016 US dollars) to US society. Our findings emphasize the importance of effective prevention and early diagnosis to reduce illness and associated costs. These results can be used in cost-effectiveness analyses of current and future prevention methods, such as a vaccine.

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**Comment**

And here you have it. The sudden concern for costs due to the need for “prevention methods”, specifically a “vaccine,” which, BTW is the most lucrative venture for scientists – the big cash cow they are all vying for with your tax dollars.

Sorry. Not buying it. I’m so over this global propaganda that puts everyone into a box and treats everyone identically. This has never been done in medicine until now. A “vaccine” can never and will never be a magic bullet for anything – particularly Lyme/MSIDS.

While societal cost is undoubtedly high, it isn’t high enough to get an injection that to date still has OspA in it – the very thing causing illness and has been linked to severe adverse reactions. The desperate need for effective, affordable, safe treatments just isn’t interesting to researchers and our government due to the small monetary return – yet the very thing that would alleviate patient suffering around the world.

Further, studies are never done with the chronically infected so millions do not fit into the “vaccine” paradigm at all and never will. But the chronically ill just don’t matter. It’s all for the “greater good,” whoever that is.

Category:

Lyme, research, vaccines

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