Lyme disease in Poland in 2019

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia spirochetes transmitted by ticks of the genus Ixodes. In Poland, Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease. The entire territory of Poland is recognized by ECDC as an endemic area of Lyme disease. Environmental factors and climate change are responsible for the increase in the number of tick habitats, which leads to an increased risk of Lyme disease. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study is to present the epidemiological situation of Lyme disease in Poland in 2019 compared to the previous year. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The analysis of the epidemiological situation of Lyme disease in Poland was based on data sent to NIPH NIH - NRI by voivodeship sanitary-epidemiological stations and published in the bulletin "Infectious diseases and poisoning in Poland in 2019." RESULTS: In 2019, 20,630 cases of Lyme disease were registered, and 1,701 people were hospitalized. Compared to 2018, there was a shift in the incidence from the first and second quarter to the fourth quarter. The highest incidence of 107.7 / 100,000 population was recorded in the Podlaskie voivodeship, which has belonged to the voivodeships with the highest incidence in the country for many years. Despite an increase in the total number of cases by 2.4% compared to 2018, the percentage of hospitalized cases was lower than in the previous year. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: Difficulties in the diagnosis of Lyme disease make it impossible to define an unequivocal trend in the epidemiological situation in Poland. A slight increase in the incidence may result from the growing number of infected ticks and a better understanding of the problem of Lyme diagnosis by doctors.