The Maine Tracking Network added 2012 Lyme disease incidence data to its online public health data portal this week. Users can now track the number of cases of the disease from 2001 to 2012 and use the interactive tools to explore how rates of the disease differ among men, women and people in various age groups, and between counties or public health districts during this time period.
With the addition of another year of data, the trend in the number of annual cases of Lyme disease continues to increase. In 2011, the number of reported cases surpassed 1,000, and in 2012 there were more than 1,100 cases reported. In 2001, there were only 108 cases reported.
As the third most commonly reported infectious disease in the state, all who live in or visit Maine are at risk for the disease.
Lyme disease data are based on healthcare provider reports of laboratory or clinically diagnosed Lyme disease, including erythema migrans, the bull's eye rash that is often the first clinical sign of the disease.
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Infectious Disease Epidemiology Program makes the Lyme disease data available, with informatics support from the Maine CDC Public Health Performance Improvement team.
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