Lyme disease, also called Borreliosis or Lyme borreliosis, is a bacterial infection transmitted by ticks. It was first described in the USA in 1975 in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Lyme disease has been reported on all five continents. It occurs in almost all countries in Europe, especially Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other central European countries, but also in Scandinavia.
Public awareness of Lyme disease has been steadily growing in recent years. In Europe, currently around 65,000-80,000 Lyme disease cases are officially reported each year. The actual number, however, is much higher – possibly even many times higher. The reason is that Lyme disease infection displays various symptoms that cannot easily be classified.
