Ticks in the Tropics: Challenging the Myth of a Lyme-Less Florida

Abstract

Objectives:

Few analyses have differentiated locally acquired Lyme disease infection from travel-associated infection, limiting the ability to interpret whether case counts reflect true in-state transmission or increased detection among mobile populations. We analyzed and compared trends in Lyme disease incidence at the national level and in the state of Florida.

Methods:

We primarily used Lyme disease surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2010 through 2023. The data included total case numbers, demographic characteristics, and county-level distribution maps. We stratified data by age, sex, and county in Florida. We conducted a Pearson correlation analysis to examine the association between Florida’s mean annual temperature and Lyme disease incidence from 2010 through 2023.

Results:

Florida recorded 84 Lyme disease cases in 2010 and 271 cases in 2023; incidence per 100 000 residents rose from 0.4 in 2010 to 1.2 in 2023. Older adults had the highest incidence of reported Lyme disease in Florida. Lyme disease incidence was slightly higher among females than among males. North Florida was a hotspot for Lyme disease transmission, and the North Central region (roughly from Jacksonville to Tallahassee) consistently yielded most of the Florida-acquired tickborne disease cases.

Conclusion:

Early detection and timely action to reduce the spread of Lyme disease is important for several intertwined clinical, economic, and ecological reasons. Further research is needed to differentiate infections acquired outside the state to clarify their influence on state trends. Establishing proactive measures in Florida’s public health and education sectors for tickborne disease prevention is necessary to reduce risk as Lyme disease cases continue to increase in Florida.