Number of cases of vector-borne disease U.S. 2021, by disease

In 2021, there were around 16,211 confirmed cases of Lyme disease, making it the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through ticks. The most common mosquito-borne disease in the U.S. at that time was West Nile virus. This statistic displays the number of cases of notifiable vector-borne diseases in the U.S. in 2021, by disease. 

Vector-borne disease

Vector-borne diseases are infectious human illnesses caused by parasites, viruses, or bacteria, and are transmitted through other living organisms called vectors, either between humans or from animal to human. Common vectors include mosquitoes, ticks, and various types of flies. Mosquitoes cause the highest number of human deaths annually worldwide, as they transmit diseases such as malaria, West Nile virus, and Dengue.

Lyme disease

In the United States, the highest number of confirmed cases of Lyme disease in 2022 was reported in New York. After a bite from an infected tick, if left untreated, the infection can spread through different body systems, causing a variety of potentially debilitating and chronic symptoms. When signs of the disease, such as EM rash, fever, and fatigue are recognized early on, antibiotics can combat the spread of the infection to complete recovery.