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Lyme disease

Last updated on Thursday, 12 March 2026 at 10:47am

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged (deer) ticks. Common symptoms are a characteristic bullseye rash, fever, and fatigue. If diagnosed early, it is highly treatable with antibiotics, but can lead to severe joint, heart, and neurological issues if left untreated.

This metric shows the annual incidence rate of laboratory confirmed acute Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) cases in England per 100,000 population, disaggregated by sex and age groups.

The rate of annual Acute Lyme Disease is calculated from cases confirmed by the the Rare and Imported Pathogens (RIPL) laboratory and mid-year population estimates published by the Office for National Statistics.

These metrics are updated annually. The next update will be in May 2026.

Overview

Infection rate by year

The total laboratory confirmed cases of Lyme disease in England per 100,000 population. Figures are annual, but shown as at December of each year. For example, the figures for 2022 are shown as at "Dec 2022".

Up to and including 31 Dec 2024

ChartThere is only 1 plot on this chart. The horizontal X-axis is labelled 'date'. Whilst the vertical Y-axis is labelled 'metric'. This is a dark blue solid line plot. The plot has a label of 'Annual infection rate'. This plot shows data for lyme. Specifically the metric 'lyme_cases_infectionRateByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of 'all' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2024. It fell from 2.15 on 31 December 2017 to 1.97 on 31 December 2018. It fell from 1.65 on 31 December 2019 to 1.54 on 31 December 2020. The date fluctuates between 1.67 on 31 December 2021, ending with the same value on 31 December 2021. The date fluctuates between 1.61 on 31 December 2022, ending with the same value on 31 December 2022. The date fluctuates between 2.03 on 31 December 2023, ending with the same value on 31 December 2023. And finally. The date fluctuates between 1.69 on 31 December 2024, ending with the same value on 31 December 2024. There is no reporting delay period being tracked for the data on this chart. - Refer to tabular data.
Tabular data

Infection rate by year data for the total laboratory confirmed cases of Lyme disease in England per 100,000 population. Figures are annual, but shown as at December of each year. For example, the figures for 2022 are shown as at "Dec 2022".

Up to and including 31 December 2024

DateAnnual infection rate
31 Dec 20241.69
31 Dec 20232.03
31 Dec 20221.61
31 Dec 20211.67
31 Dec 20201.54
31 Dec 20191.65
31 Dec 20181.97
31 Dec 20172.15
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Infection rate by sex

All laboratory confirmed cases in England per 100,000 population, disaggregated by sex. Figures are annual, but shown as at December of each year. For example, the figures for 2022 are shown as at "Dec 2022".

Up to and including 31 Dec 2024

ChartThere are 2 plots on this chart. The horizontal X-axis is labelled 'date'. Whilst the vertical Y-axis is labelled 'metric'. This is plot number 1 on this chart. This is a dark blue solid line plot. The plot has a label of 'male'. This plot shows data for lyme. Specifically the metric 'lyme_cases_infectionRateByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of 'all' for the gender group of males. This plot shows data from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2024. It rose from 2.15 on 31 December 2017 to 2.16 on 31 December 2018. It fell from 1.81 on 31 December 2019 to 1.69 on 31 December 2020. The date fluctuates between 1.71 on 31 December 2021, ending with the same value on 31 December 2021. The date fluctuates between 1.71 on 31 December 2022, ending with the same value on 31 December 2022. The date fluctuates between 1.99 on 31 December 2023, ending with the same value on 31 December 2023. And finally. The date fluctuates between 1.68 on 31 December 2024, ending with the same value on 31 December 2024. This is plot number 2 on this chart. This is a turquoise solid line plot. The plot has a label of 'female'. This plot shows data for lyme. Specifically the metric 'lyme_cases_infectionRateByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of 'all' for the gender group of females. This plot shows data from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2024. It fell from 2.15 on 31 December 2017 to 1.79 on 31 December 2018. It fell from 1.5 on 31 December 2019 to 1.4 on 31 December 2020. The date fluctuates between 1.64 on 31 December 2021, ending with the same value on 31 December 2021. The date fluctuates between 1.51 on 31 December 2022, ending with the same value on 31 December 2022. The date fluctuates between 2.06 on 31 December 2023, ending with the same value on 31 December 2023. And finally. The date fluctuates between 1.69 on 31 December 2024, ending with the same value on 31 December 2024. There is no reporting delay period being tracked for the data on this chart. - Refer to tabular data.
Tabular data

Infection rate by sex data for all laboratory confirmed cases in England per 100,000 population, disaggregated by sex. Figures are annual, but shown as at December of each year. For example, the figures for 2022 are shown as at "Dec 2022".

Up to and including 31 December 2024

Datemalefemale
31 Dec 20241.681.69
31 Dec 20231.992.06
31 Dec 20221.711.51
31 Dec 20211.711.64
31 Dec 20201.691.40
31 Dec 20191.811.50
31 Dec 20182.161.79
31 Dec 20172.152.15
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Infection rate by age group

All laboratory confirmed cases of Lyme disease in England per 100,000 population, disaggregated by age group. Figures are annual, but shown as at December of each year. For example, the figures for 2022 are shown as at "Dec 2022".

Up to and including 31 Dec 2024

ChartThere are 6 plots on this chart. The horizontal X-axis is labelled 'date'. Whilst the vertical Y-axis is labelled 'metric'. This is plot number 1 on this chart. This is a dark blue solid line plot. The plot has a label of '1 to 14 years old'. This plot shows data for lyme. Specifically the metric 'lyme_cases_infectionRateByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of '01-14' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2024. It rose from 1.13 on 31 December 2017 to 1.15 on 31 December 2018. It rose from 0.97 on 31 December 2019 to 1.24 on 31 December 2020. The date fluctuates between 0.84 on 31 December 2021, ending with the same value on 31 December 2021. The date fluctuates between 0.91 on 31 December 2022, ending with the same value on 31 December 2022. The date fluctuates between 1.04 on 31 December 2023, ending with the same value on 31 December 2023. And finally. The date fluctuates between 0.69 on 31 December 2024, ending with the same value on 31 December 2024. This is plot number 2 on this chart. This is a turquoise solid line plot. The plot has a label of '15 to 44 years old'. This plot shows data for lyme. Specifically the metric 'lyme_cases_infectionRateByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of '15-44' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2024. It fell from 2.16 on 31 December 2017 to 1.76 on 31 December 2018. It rose from 1.39 on 31 December 2019 to 1.46 on 31 December 2020. The date fluctuates between 1.54 on 31 December 2021, ending with the same value on 31 December 2021. The date fluctuates between 1.45 on 31 December 2022, ending with the same value on 31 December 2022. The date fluctuates between 1.92 on 31 December 2023, ending with the same value on 31 December 2023. And finally. The date fluctuates between 1.59 on 31 December 2024, ending with the same value on 31 December 2024. This is plot number 3 on this chart. This is a dark pink solid line plot. The plot has a label of '45 to 64 years old'. This plot shows data for lyme. Specifically the metric 'lyme_cases_infectionRateByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of '45-64' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2024. It fell from 2.74 on 31 December 2017 to 2.72 on 31 December 2018. It fell from 2.33 on 31 December 2019 to 2.01 on 31 December 2020. The date fluctuates between 2.59 on 31 December 2021, ending with the same value on 31 December 2021. The date fluctuates between 2.35 on 31 December 2022, ending with the same value on 31 December 2022. The date fluctuates between 2.98 on 31 December 2023, ending with the same value on 31 December 2023. And finally. The date fluctuates between 2.39 on 31 December 2024, ending with the same value on 31 December 2024. This is plot number 4 on this chart. This is a orange solid line plot. The plot has a label of '65 to 74 years old'. This plot shows data for lyme. Specifically the metric 'lyme_cases_infectionRateByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of '65-74' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2024. It fell from 3.07 on 31 December 2017 to 2.81 on 31 December 2018. It fell from 2.55 on 31 December 2019 to 1.84 on 31 December 2020. The date fluctuates between 1.97 on 31 December 2021, ending with the same value on 31 December 2021. The date fluctuates between 2.1 on 31 December 2022, ending with the same value on 31 December 2022. The date fluctuates between 2.37 on 31 December 2023, ending with the same value on 31 December 2023. And finally. The date fluctuates between 2.3 on 31 December 2024, ending with the same value on 31 December 2024. This is plot number 5 on this chart. This is a dark grey solid line plot. The plot has a label of '75 to 84 years old'. This plot shows data for lyme. Specifically the metric 'lyme_cases_infectionRateByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of '75-84' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2024. It rose from 1.57 on 31 December 2017 to 1.59 on 31 December 2018. It fell from 1.36 on 31 December 2019 to 0.93 on 31 December 2020. The date fluctuates between 0.93 on 31 December 2021, ending with the same value on 31 December 2021. The date fluctuates between 1.16 on 31 December 2022, ending with the same value on 31 December 2022. The date fluctuates between 1.5 on 31 December 2023, ending with the same value on 31 December 2023. And finally. The date fluctuates between 1.51 on 31 December 2024, ending with the same value on 31 December 2024. This is plot number 6 on this chart. This is a light purple solid line plot. The plot has a label of '85 years and older'. This plot shows data for lyme. Specifically the metric 'lyme_cases_infectionRateByYear' for the England area, along with the age banding of '85+' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 31 December 2017 to 31 December 2024. It rose from 0.3 on 31 December 2017 to 0.52 on 31 December 2018. It fell from 0.44 on 31 December 2019 to 0.22 on 31 December 2020. The date fluctuates between 0.43 on 31 December 2021, ending with the same value on 31 December 2021. The date fluctuates between 0.35 on 31 December 2022, ending with the same value on 31 December 2022. The date fluctuates between 0.49 on 31 December 2023, ending with the same value on 31 December 2023. And finally. The date fluctuates between 0.49 on 31 December 2024, ending with the same value on 31 December 2024. There is no reporting delay period being tracked for the data on this chart. - Refer to tabular data.
Tabular data

Infection rate by age group data for all laboratory confirmed cases of Lyme disease in England per 100,000 population, disaggregated by age group. Figures are annual, but shown as at December of each year. For example, the figures for 2022 are shown as at "Dec 2022".

Up to and including 31 December 2024

Date1 to 14 years old15 to 44 years old
31 Dec 20240.691.59
31 Dec 20231.041.92
31 Dec 20220.911.45
31 Dec 20210.841.54
31 Dec 20201.241.46
31 Dec 20190.971.39
31 Dec 20181.151.76
31 Dec 20171.132.16
Date45 to 64 years old65 to 74 years old
31 Dec 20242.392.30
31 Dec 20232.982.37
31 Dec 20222.352.10
31 Dec 20212.591.97
31 Dec 20202.011.84
31 Dec 20192.332.55
31 Dec 20182.722.81
31 Dec 20172.743.07
Date75 to 84 years old85 years and older
31 Dec 20241.510.49
31 Dec 20231.500.49
31 Dec 20221.160.35
31 Dec 20210.930.43
31 Dec 20200.930.22
31 Dec 20191.360.44
31 Dec 20181.590.52
31 Dec 20171.570.30
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