How many people have been affected by tick bites? - briefly
Approximately 5–10 million people worldwide contract tick‑borne illnesses each year, while the United States records about 30,000 confirmed cases of Lyme disease annually. These figures illustrate the substantial public‑health impact of tick bites.
How many people have been affected by tick bites? - in detail
Tick‑borne illnesses affect millions of individuals worldwide each year. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention record approximately 30 000 confirmed Lyme disease cases annually, with an estimated 300 000 additional infections based on surveillance data. Rocky Mountain spotted fever contributes another 5 000–8 000 reported cases, while anaplasmosis and babesiosis together add roughly 10 000–12 000 infections.
European surveillance indicates that tick‑borne encephalitis (TBE) generates about 10 000–12 000 clinical cases per year, predominantly in Central and Eastern Europe. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control estimates that over 100 000 cases of Lyme disease occur across the continent annually, with similar numbers for other tick‑transmitted pathogens such as spotted fever group rickettsioses and tick‑borne relapsing fever.
Globally, the World Health Organization acknowledges that tick‑borne diseases constitute a major public‑health burden, estimating between 70 000 and 100 000 000 infections each year. The most frequently reported conditions—Lyme disease, TBE, and rickettsial diseases—account for the majority of this figure. Regional breakdowns show:
- North America: 300 000–400 000 estimated infections (Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, babesiosis).
- Europe: 150 000–200 000 estimated infections (Lyme disease, TBE, other rickettsioses).
- Asia and Oceania: 20 000–30 000 reported cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, Japanese spotted fever, and related illnesses.
- Africa: Limited surveillance, but sporadic reports of tick‑borne relapsing fever suggest several thousand additional cases.
These numbers reflect reported and laboratory‑confirmed cases; the true incidence is likely higher due to under‑diagnosis and limited reporting infrastructure in many regions.