--- description: Lyme disease is not only becoming more rampant in its normal hotspot of the northeast United States, it's spreading across the country title: Lyme Disease Has Surged 320% in America image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt28751493a46bee8f/69885b228e0601ae43461692/deer-tick.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Health](/section/health/) ## Health Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Public Health](/tag/public-health/) ## Public Health Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Lyme Disease Has Surged 320% in America  by [Tanya Basu](/author/tanya-basu/)  ## Tanya Basu Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jul 15, 2015 10:38 PM CUT  Deer Ticks Deer TicksGetty Images  by [Tanya Basu](/author/tanya-basu/)  ## Tanya Basu Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jul 15, 2015 10:38 PM CUT Lyme disease is not only becoming more rampant in its normal hotspot of the northeast United States, it’s spreading across the country, a new [report](http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/21/8/14-1878%5Farticle "undefined") from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns. “Over time, the number of counties identified as having high incidence of Lyme disease in the northeastern states increased more than 320 percent,” researchers write in the report. They also note that the disease is appearing in states where its never been recorded before. One big reason why Lyme disease is spiking, according to the CDC report: [climate change](http://qz.com/441583/lyme-disease-is-spreading-faster-than-ever-and-humans-are-partly-to-blame/ "undefined"). Ticks tend to live in densely-forested areas and are preyed on by white mice. But forest clearing has killed off many mice, leaving ticks without a predator to keep them in check. With humans crossing this terrain, it means ticks have a fresh crop of victims to attack. And thanks to warmer temperatures, ticks are spreading their terrain into America’s heartland from their normal stronghold on the East coast. Lyme disease is an infection caused by the _Borrelia burgdorferi_ bacteria found on blacklegged deer ticks. The disease was identified in 1975\. Symptoms include a high fever, headaches, fatigue, and a skin rash. If untreated, the infection can spread to joints, the heart and nervous system. In some instances, Lyme disease can be fatal. New Jersey is typically considered the capital of Lyme disease in America, but it’s spreading across the Mid-Atlantic to the Midwest, with high-risk counties in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota. Click [here](https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2825/ "undefined") to see what to do to prevent yourself against Lyme disease—and what to do if you have it. ### You Asked: Your Top 10 Health Questions Answered  You Asked: Are Cleanses Healthy? Potions that claim to clear your body of toxins might sound alluring, but do they deliver? Illustration by Peter Oumanski for TIME  You Asked: Is Eating Dessert Really That Bad For Me? Bad news for sweet-eaters—except if you end your meals with this kind of treat. Illustration by Peter Oumanski for TIME  You Asked: What’s the Best Way to Whiten My Teeth? 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