Lyme disease may cost about $1B annually in the US

More than 1 in 7 people worldwide have had Lyme disease

Research published in 2022 suggests that 14.5% of the world's population has contracted Lyme disease. Researchers arrived at that estimate by analyzing the presence of Lyme disease antibodies (indicating prior infection) across 89 studies conducted between January 1984 and December 2021. The works collectively included blood samples from more than 150,000 people. (Some user may encounter a paywall.)

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne illness in the US

In the US, ticks account for 90% of all disease transmission from bites, including mosquitoes. And Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the US overall, with estimates suggesting there are about 475,000 Lyme cases annually across the nation.

See the incidence of Lyme disease across all 50 states in 2023

The US states with the highest rate of Lyme disease—meaning cases per 100,000 people—were Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine, in 2023. Rhode Island had 260 cases per 100,000 people, based on cases reported to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Some users may encounter a paywall.)

Lyme disease is caused by bacteria transmitted through the bite of infected ticks

It's an infectious disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. It's spread through the bite of two species of infected ticks, the Western blacklegged ticks on the West Coast, and Blacklegged ticks found throughout the eastern US. The ticks can transmit the disease at both the nymph and adult stage. It's not known to be transmitted from one person to another via kissing or sex.

Fungal diseases cost the US around $19B annually

Estimates derived from health insurance claims, death certificates, and hospitalization data suggest that fungus is a significant medical issue. Each year, fungal diseases kill some 7,300 people—roughly the same number of deaths attributed to motor vehicles striking pedestrians. Around 130,000 people are hospitalized with fungal diseases, and the total national cost from fungal diseases is estimated to be about $19B—a figure that roughly matches Jamaica's entire gross domestic product.

Mental illness in the US costs roughly $282B annually nationwide

That figure, estimated as part of a 2024 Yale analysis that aimed to better understand the macroeconomic implications of mental illness, included the costs of mental health treatment, income loss, and overarching economic setbacks associated with mental illness.

Search Lyme disease incidence in your county

The searchable database at the bottom of this webpage allows users to check the reported incidence of Lyme disease in US counties and Canadian health regions. In 2022, for example, Baltimore County in Maryland had a rate of about 34 probable and confirmed cases per 100,000 people. Arlington, County in Virginia was less than half of that for the same time period.

Land use changes in Connecticut may have helped to enable Lyme's leap into humans

Forest clearing and fragmentation, alongside suburban development, may have contributed to the emergence of Lyme disease in humans in the 1970s. Those changes brought mice, carriers of the disease, into greater contact with people. Climate change is also facilitating Lyme's spread as tick populations survive milder winters and move northward.

Nonwhite Lyme patients tend to be diagnosed later and have more severe disease

Peer-reviewed research published in 2025 from Pfizer—a pharmaceutical company working on a candidate vaccine for Lyme disease—examined Lyme data from more than 150,000 Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and found that Black patients, as compared to white beneficiaries, were more likely to have disease that had spread further throughout the body at the time of care. The difference, the scientists wrote, may be partly due to difficulties recognizing the characteristic rash on darker-colored skin.

Lyme disease-causing bacteria predate any suspected biological weapons testing

Borrelia bacteria existed long before any US biological weapons program—or human presence in North America. One study comparing genomes of the bacteria behind Lyme disease collected samples of the bacteria over three decades and calculated that the bacterium has been in North America longer than humans, at least 60,000 years. Other work found related bacteria preserved in amber from millions of years ago.

Foodborne illnesses cost our country an estimated $74.7 billion in 2023

A US government estimate puts the cost of all foodborne illness in 2023 at almost $75 billion dollars. In a report published by the US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, government analysts detailed how the burden of foodborne illness includes medical costs, but also more hidden costs like lost wages. The analysis also breaks down estimated costs by pathogen.

Chronic lyme isn't a medically recognized diagnosis in conventional medicine

It describes a constellation of symptoms attributed to a persistent Lyme infection—meaning the bacteria have remained present even after antibiotics. It often occurs among people who have never received a positive test for Lyme. Doctors do recognize "post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome," however, which can include muscle and joint pain, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties after treatment for confirmed Lyme.

America's financial burden from dementia in 2025 was $781 billion

That figure, calculated by researchers at the University of Southern California, includes medical and long-term care costs, unpaid family and friend caretaking, lost productivity for patients and their families, and the economic loss in quality of life for patients and their families. In 2025, they estimate there were 5.6 million people living with dementia.

Two Lyme disease vaccines were in development in 2026

As of early 2026, there was no vaccine for Lyme disease available. One candidate vaccine, VLA15, was in later-stage clinical trials. Another designed to provide seasonal protection was licensed to a pharmaceutical company in 2025, and was planned for human clinical trials.

From 1970 to 2017, invasive species have caused $1.28T in damage globally

The costliest species were the Asian tiger and yellow fever mosquitoes ($149B), which arrived in the US from Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, respectively. The bulk of their damage came from their transmission of diseases such as Zika, chikungunya, and dengue. (Some readers may experience a paywall.)

Up to 225 cases of leprosy in the US are diagnosed each year

Most cases in the US are imported, meaning someone was infected in a country where it was more common. Since symptoms can sometimes take decades to appear, tracing the origin of the disease can be hard.

Extending the worldwide lifespan by one healthy year is worth $38T

This econometric study attempts to estimate the economic value of increasing the global healthy lifespan by one year—and to answer the question of whether it is better to extend lifespans or slow the rate of healthy aging.

It can take 10 to 15 years and more than $1B to develop a new antibiotic.

Why don't we just develop new antibiotics? In part, it's a complex scientific challenge, but market incentives also play a significant role. It can be time consuming, expensive, and most notably, we should use as little as possible to avoid driving further antibiotic resistance.

The lifetime costs of caring for a dog can run anywhere from $16,440 to $52,075

The cost depends on the dog's breed, size, and ongoing health conditions, according to a recent Rover survey. Tactics such as purchasing dog food in bulk and asking for a generic version of your dog's prescription medications can help reduce costs.

Discover the economic value of coral reefs, which benefit one billion people worldwide

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration estimates that US commercial and recreational fisheries valued at $200M depend on coral reefs, which provide up to $1.8B in flood protection by absorbing 97% of wave energy. Combined with the benefits from tourism, US coral reefs provide $3.4B in value annually.

Opioid epidemic 101: lawsuits and settlements

State and local governments trying to address the opioid epidemic have sued organizations they believe started and supported the crisis. Companies that made, distributed, or contributed to sales of the highly addictive painkillers are expected to pay more than $50B in settlements. These settlements specifically state that at least 85% of settlement funds must be spent on addressing the epidemic, though where exactly the money is going is unclear.

About 2,000 US babies are born annually without some portion of their limbs, potentially leading to a lifetime of pricey prosthetics.

Pickleball injuries were responsible for $350M in medical costs in 2023

Unsurprisingly, picklers over 50 account for 90% of the injuries, with the most common being sprains, strains, and fractures. Experts say a substantial pregame warm-up can prevent most injuries.

Listen to the evolving economics of prosthetics

Amputees must navigate the challenging medical and economic aspects of limb support and replacement, but advances in technology and research may reduce these costs. A below-knee prosthetic typically costs $15,000 to $20,000—not counting all the rehab costs.

Flood insurance policies from the National Flood Insurance Program cost just over $1,100 per year on average

Private residential policies range from $600 to $2,800 per year. Taking steps to lower flood risk in your home, such as installing flood vents or elevating home utilities, can make premiums cheaper.

US consumers collectively owe more than $1T to credit card companies—almost as much as they owe in auto loans.

The NFL makes most of its money through media licensing deals

The NFL, which reportedly earned more than $20B in 2023, generates its revenue through several key streams. The largest comes from media licensing deals, where networks and streaming platforms pay billions for the rights to broadcast games. Corporate sponsorships are another major contributor.

The USPS spent $3.97B in 2024, accounting for .058% of the federal budget.

Between 10 million and 50 million people in the US develop rashes from poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak each year.

Experimental hantavirus vaccines and therapies, still under development, have long been funded by the US military.

Use this calculator to find the dollar value of your mental load, from meal planning to coordinating after-school care for your children.

Fireworks-related ER visits are on the rise—in 2024, they increased by 52% as compared to the prior year.

Louisiana's 'Cancer Alley' is infamous for having some of the highest industrial pollution, toxic air emissions, and cancer risks in the US.

In 2019, a laptop loaded with six of the worst malware in history and described as 'an exhibit of historical weaponry' sold for $1.3M.

Volcanic activity may have triggered the Black Death by spewing gases that led to crop failures in Europe, thus forcing the import of grain ships with plague-infested fleas.

See how Ebola tore through Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia in 2014-2016.

The most expensive ad of all time was for Chanel No. 5 perfume and cost roughly $33M to produce in 2004—about $57M in today's dollars.

Telehealth demand for GLP-1s for weight loss is booming as consumers seek easier access.

In 1939, baseball star Lou Gehrig delivered his inspirational 'Luckiest Man' speech after retiring due to the health condition that now bears his name.

Larger animals like giraffes, elephants, and blue whales have developed a unique defense against cancer, a phenomenon known as Peto's Paradox

Alzheimer's can lead to brain shrinkage, with an average of around 2% of volume reduction per year

Discover the catastrophic consequences of a failure of the US electrical grid—something that is more likely than many Americans think.

Before the current East Wing ballroom project, only two White House renovations in the past 100 years cost more than $10M.

Massive blooms of microscopic plankton called dinoflagellates produce the neon blue light seen in glowing tides.

Doctors differentiate between a phobia and fear by asking patients whether their fear interferes with their day-to-day activities.

The hormonal disorder PCOS was renamed PMOS in 2026, a move designed to improve care and research by shifting the focus to the hormonal causes of this condition that affects 1 in 8 women.

In 2026, Finland was named the world's happiest country for the ninth consecutive year based on its wealth, social safety network, and high life expectancy, among other factors.

Budweiser stores yeast derived from the original 1800s strain in a secret bunker, which only the Head of Yeast Management can access—not even the CEO

Some Pokémon have been named after real and fictional organisms, while some real-world species have been named after Pokémon, such as Chilicola charizard and Binburrum zapdos.

Explore an interactive map of battles from the American Revolution, along with detailed summaries of each engagement