Lyme Disease Remains a Burden in Connecticut 40 Years Later
Lyme disease was first identified in Connecticut nearly 50 years ago. Yet despite decades of public health efforts, it continues to pose a significant burden.
Since 1977, “in spite of all endeavors conducted by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CTDPH) to control the disease, it remains endemic with substantial morbidity rates,” according to Mollalo and colleagues.
Persistent Lyme Disease Hotspots Across Connecticut
Mollalo and his team conducted a retrospective study examining spatial clusters of Lyme disease across Connecticut towns over a 24-year period.
The goal was to better understand how Lyme disease is distributed geographically—and how that distribution has changed over time.
The authors found that Lyme disease cases clustered predominantly in western and eastern Connecticut, with fewer cases in the central region.
High-incidence “hotspots” varied over time, but some towns remained consistently affected.
Between 24 and 30 towns in eastern Connecticut were identified as hotspots during both the early and later study periods. In western Connecticut, hotspots ranged from 8 to 10 towns.
Towns with Persistent High Incidence
Several towns—including Chaplin, Windham, and Scotland—were consistently identified as high-incidence clusters.
Neighboring towns such as Andover, Columbia, and Lebanon also showed persistent elevated rates in multiple study periods.
These findings suggest that certain regions remain at sustained risk and may benefit from targeted public health interventions.
Why Identifying Lyme Disease Clusters Matters
The authors emphasized that identifying high-risk areas could support more efficient public health strategies.
“Targeted control, planning and management of the disease can assist with resource allocation to towns with persistent high incidence rates,” they noted.
Focusing efforts on known hotspots may improve prevention and reduce long-term disease burden.
The True Burden May Be Much Higher
Between 1991 and 2014, more than 54,000 cases of Lyme disease were reported in Connecticut.
However, the actual number of infections is estimated to be up to ten times higher—suggesting that more than 500,000 individuals may have been affected.
This highlights the limitations of surveillance data and the likelihood of underdiagnosis. For more on diagnostic challenges, see Testing and Diagnosis of Lyme Disease.
Why Lyme Disease Persists
The continued presence of Lyme disease in Connecticut reflects a combination of environmental, ecological, and diagnostic challenges.
Despite decades of awareness, the disease remains entrenched in certain regions, with ongoing risk to residents.
For a broader clinical overview, see the Lyme disease symptoms guide.
Clinical Takeaway
Lyme disease remains endemic in Connecticut decades after it was first identified. Persistent geographic hotspots and underreporting continue to contribute to its ongoing burden.
Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.
Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention
