Justin Timberlake recently revealed he has been battling Lyme disease during his world tour, drawing attention to the rising spread of the disease in the U.S. Lyme disease, caused by ticks infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, has seen a significant geographic expansion since the early 2000s. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, joint pain, and a distinctive rash, with some cases leading to long-term health issues. As climate change and human expansion increase tick habitats, the disease is becoming more prevalent across the country. Prevention measures include using repellents, wearing protective clothing, staying on trails, and checking for ticks after outdoor activities.

What is Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium and spread through bites from infected black-legged ticks. According to the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, it is the most common vector-borne infectious disease in the U.S., with at least 627,927 estimated actual cases in 2024.

Early symptoms include fatigue, fever, joint pain—and a signature bull's-eye rash. Left untreated, the infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. While antibiotics are often effective, some patients experience lingering effects for months or years.

Josh Wein, executive director of the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, told Newsweek: "While Lyme is easily treated in some patients, others go on to suffer debilitating symptoms." He noted that "around 10 to 20 percent" of those treated with the standard antibiotic course still suffer from fatigue, pain, or joint issues, and that "more than 2 million suffer from its debilitating later stage symptoms."

Lyme Disease Across the US

In June 2025, the CDC released maps showing reported Lyme disease cases for 2001, 2010, and 2023. The progression is striking.

In 2001, most cases were clustered in the Northeast—particularly in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey—with sparse, scattered cases elsewhere.

By 2010, the disease had expanded into the Midwest and parts of the South, while growing denser along the East Coast.

In 2023, over 89,000 cases were reported to the CDC by state health departments and the District of Columbia. That year, Lyme disease spanned a vast portion of the eastern U.S., from Maine to Virginia and deep into the Midwest, with many more counties showing significant case counts.

It's important to note that CDC maps use the patient's county of residence, not the place of infection.

"Lyme disease has spread significantly in the U.S. since the 1990s due to a combination of ecological, climatic and human-driven factors," Wein explained.

"Warming temperatures enabled ticks to survive and expand northward into regions like the upper Midwest and Canada, and Milder winters and earlier springs extend the period when ticks can bite and spread the bacteria."

Who Is at Risk—and How to Prevent Lyme Disease

"Anyone can get Lyme disease," Wein said, noting that "ticks carrying Lyme and other pathogens live in a range of climates."

Mark A. Willis, biology professor at Case Western Reserve University, told Newsweek the biggest risk factor is spending time in wooded or grassy areas where ticks and their hosts—like deer and rodents—live.

He also pointed to suburban expansion: "Humans developing new neighborhoods and moving into closer proximity to the natural areas where Lyme disease, its natural hosts and the ticks live... exposes us to the natural hosts like rodents and deer who visit our yards and gardens."

Thankfully, there are steps that can be taken to help prevent Lyme disease. The Bay Area Lyme Foundation recommends steps to reduce risk:

  • Use EPA-registered repellents with DEET, picaridin, or permethrin (on clothing).
  • Wear long sleeves and pants; tuck pants into socks when outdoors.
  • Stay on trails and avoid brush and tall grass.
  • Check your body, clothing, and pets for ticks after being outdoors.
  • Shower within two hours of coming indoors to help remove ticks