--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lyme disease is the most commonly…" description: "\"Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borne illness in the United States, and the incidence is growing rapidly. In 2009, the C.D.C. reported ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/michael-specter-8599_agree_lyme-disease-is-the-most-commonly-report_2320597.png" --- # Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borne… ![“Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borne illness in the United States, and the incidence is growing rapidly. In 2009, the C.D.C. reported thirty-eight thousand cases, three times more than in 1991. Most researchers agree that the true number of infections is five to ten times higher.” quote by Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/michael-specter-8599_agree_lyme-disease-is-the-most-commonly-report_2320597.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/michael-specter-8599_agree_lyme-disease-is-the-most-commonly-report_2320597.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/michael-specter-8599_agree_lyme-disease-is-the-most-commonly-report_2320597.png) > “Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borne illness in the United States, and the incidence is growing rapidly. In 2009, the C.D.C. reported thirty-eight thousand cases, three times more than in 1991. Most researchers agree that the true number of infections is five to ten times higher.” [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lyme disease cases are rising sharply, far exceeding official counts, indicating a hidden public‑health crisis. **In simple terms:** Lyme cases are growing faster than reported. Key Takeaway Recognize and address under‑reporting. Themes public health epidemiology awareness policy environment Mood concerned urgent informative Type informational analytical advocacy When to use this quote - clinical practice - public health planning - patient advocacy - research funding - community education Key Concepts surveillance vector control diagnostic challenges healthcare access climate change Questions to Reflect On - How can surveillance improve to capture true incidence? - What policies could reduce tick exposure? A Different Perspective Official numbers likely underestimate true burden, complicating resource allocation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agree/) [Borne Illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borne-illness-5545549/) [Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) [Commonly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonly/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illness/) [Lyme disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lyme-disease/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most/) [Number](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/number/) [Rapidly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapidly/) [Reported](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reported/) [Reported Tick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reported-tick-5545548/) [Researchers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/researchers/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Ten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Three times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three-times/) [Tick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tick/) [Tick Borne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tick-borne-5545547/) [Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/times/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [If left untreated, Lyme disease can be crippling, yet it is a difficult illness to contract: a tick needs to attach itself to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/if-left-untreated-lyme-disease-can-be-crippling-yet-it-is-a-difficult/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has established highly specific criteria for the diagnosis of Lyme disease: an acknowledged tick bite, the appearance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/the-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-has-established-highly/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [The numbers matter: underreporting of Lyme disease obscures the true burden of the illnesses, on individuals as well as on health-care systems. It also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/the-numbers-matter-underreporting-of-lyme-disease-obscures-the-true/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [There are many theories about the best way to remove excess carbon from the atmosphere - some are ludicrous, others are at least worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/there-are-many-theories-about-the-best-way-to-remove-excess-carbon/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [“Certain healing foods can help your body ward off or recover from the viruses behind Lyme disease symptoms. Star anise, asparagus, wild blueberries, radishes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-william/certain-healing-foods-can-help-your-body-ward-off-or-recover-from-the/) [Anthony William](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-william/) > [“However, research now shows that less than 50 percent of adults and children with reported cases of Lyme disease exhibit the EM rash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-singleton/however-research-now-shows-that-less-than-50-percent-of-adults-and/) [Kenneth Singleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-singleton/) > [I know runners who have suffered a tick bite and ended up with Lyme disease. I'll take an angry moose any day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/i-know-runners-who-have-suffered-a-tick-bite-and-ended-up-with-lyme/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [In some patients, Lyme disease can be fairly easy to treat while in others, it can feel like a never battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florah/in-some-patients-lyme-disease-can-be-fairly-easy-to-treat-while-in/) [Florah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florah/) > [“Lyme disease is new then, barely known. The doctor hasn’t tested me for it. We can see only what we have a name for.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-marzano-lesnevich/lyme-disease-is-new-then-barely-known-the-doctor-hasn-t-tested-me-for/) [Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-marzano-lesnevich/) > [I have chronic - well, I like to call it late-stage Lyme disease and not chronic, because I like to think someday I'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/i-have-chronic-well-i-like-to-call-it-late-stage-lyme-disease-and-not/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) > [The Lyme disease had so severely affected my brain functioning that it was extremely hard for me to think, form sentences, and stay focused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolanda-hadid/the-lyme-disease-had-so-severely-affected-my-brain-functioning-that/) [Yolanda Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolanda-hadid/) > [“You can't teach calculus to a chimpanzee. So just share your banana.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rachel/you-can-t-teach-calculus-to-a-chimpanzee-so-just-share-your-banana/) [John Rachel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rachel/) > [I will continue to pave the way and share my health journey with the world until I find a cure and proper diagnostic testing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolanda-hadid/i-will-continue-to-pave-the-way-and-share-my-health-journey-with-the/) [Yolanda Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolanda-hadid/) > [I believe I got Lyme disease for a reason and if that is to help bring awareness, that is my mission and I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-hilfiger/i-believe-i-got-lyme-disease-for-a-reason-and-if-that-is-to-help/) [Ally Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-hilfiger/) > [Lyme disease is very debilitating. Being from the East Coast I know Lyme disease is quite common and may lay dormant and may produce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-grammer/lyme-disease-is-very-debilitating-being-from-the-east-coast-i-know/) [Camille Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-grammer/) ## More by Michael Specter > [There are always potential side effects for every vaccine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/there-are-always-potential-side-effects-for-every-vaccine/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [Until the Nineteen-Eighties, when Deng Xiaoping designated the area as China's first special economic zone, Shenzhen had been a tiny fishing village. Suddenly, eleven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/until-the-nineteen-eighties-when-deng-xiaoping-designated-the-area-as/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [There are people who could watch a hurricane like Sandy blow out of the Atlantic every other day and blame it on anything but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/there-are-people-who-could-watch-a-hurricane-like-sandy-blow-out-of/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [We're lying ourselves into believing things are untrue, like organic food will solve all our problems, or vitamins will make us healthy, or we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/we-re-lying-ourselves-into-believing-things-are-untrue-like-organic/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [I started to write about science and medicine at the 'Washington Post,' in the early days of the AIDS epidemic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/i-started-to-write-about-science-and-medicine-at-the-washington-post/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [Clearly, some of the reason people embrace alternatives and reject vaccines is that they are angry and mistrustful of government and of pharmaceutical conglomerates.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/clearly-some-of-the-reason-people-embrace-alternatives-and-reject/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [The numbers matter: underreporting of Lyme disease obscures the true burden of the illnesses, on individuals as well as on health-care systems. It also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/the-numbers-matter-underreporting-of-lyme-disease-obscures-the-true/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [There is a major problem with reliance on placebos, like most vitamins and antioxidants. Everyone gets upset about Big Science, Big Pharma, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/there-is-a-major-problem-with-reliance-on-placebos-like-most-vitamins/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [Denialist arguments are often bolstered by accurate information taken wildly out of context, wielded selectively, and supported by fake experts who often don't seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/denialist-arguments-are-often-bolstered-by-accurate-information-taken/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [Your dollar cheeseburger isn't a dollar if you factor in what it's going to cost in health care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/your-dollar-cheeseburger-isn-t-a-dollar-if-you-factor-in-what-it-s/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [To suggest that organic vegetables, which cost far more than conventional produce, can feed billions of people in parts of the world without roads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/to-suggest-that-organic-vegetables-which-cost-far-more-than/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [The history of agriculture is the history of humans breeding seeds and animals to produce traits we want in our crops and livestock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/the-history-of-agriculture-is-the-history-of-humans-breeding-seeds/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [With a hundred and seventy-eight machines to sequence the precise order of the billions of chemicals within a molecule of DNA, B.G.I. produces at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/with-a-hundred-and-seventy-eight-machines-to-sequence-the-precise/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [Be sceptical, ask questions, demand proof. Demand evidence. Don't take anything for granted. But here's the thing: When you get proof, you need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/be-sceptical-ask-questions-demand-proof-demand-evidence-don-t-take/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [Nobody celebrates when they avoid an illness they never expected to get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/nobody-celebrates-when-they-avoid-an-illness-they-never-expected-to/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) [Explore all 79 Michael Specter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) ## More Agree quotes > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. 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