Was Lyme disease first identified in Connecticut?

Lyme disease was first identified in 1975 in Lyme, Connecticut, after a group of children and adults reported unusual arthritis-like symptoms. By 1977, 51 cases of what became known as “Lyme arthritis” were documented. In 1982, scientists discovered the cause: the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted by black-legged ticks.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health, along with Yale University, the University of Connecticut, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, helped define and track the disease, shaping early research and response efforts. Since 1995, the state has averaged about 2,700 reported cases each year.

According to the CDC, Connecticut ranked among the top 10 states for reported Lyme disease cases nationally in 2023. New York reported the most, with 22,173 cases that year. Factors like suburban development and reforested land contribute to Connecticut’s high risk.