Lyme disease in Poland in 2015

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is Poland's most common tick-borne illness.
• The entire country is considered endemic, posing a significant challenge due to its complex nature and diagnostic difficulties.
• Rodents are primary reservoirs, with transmission to humans occurring via Ixodes tick saliva or vomit.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the epidemiological status of Lyme disease in Poland during 2015.
• To compare the 2015 incidence data with previous years' trends.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive analysis of mandatory surveillance data.
• Utilized data from the "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland in 2015" bulletin.
• Compared 2015 case numbers with preceding years.

Main Results:

• Poland registered 13,625 Lyme disease cases in 2015, a 0.7% reduction from the prior year.
• The national incidence rate was 35.4 per 100,000 population, with the highest rate in Podlaskie voivodeship (96.3 per 100,000).
• 1905 individuals (14%) were hospitalized for Lyme disease in 2015.

Conclusions:

• The incidence growth of Lyme disease in Poland was halted in 2015, marking the first such occurrence in several years.
• A slight decrease of 0.7% in registered cases was observed compared to the previous year.
• Enhanced awareness and adherence to recommended diagnostic laboratory testing are vital for improving diagnostic accuracy.