Lyme Disease: What’s the Hype — And What It Means for Coloradans

Sep 17

In recent months, Lyme disease has been getting more attention than usual in news stories, social media, and health discussions. As your family medicine clinic, we at Homestead Direct Primary Care want to help you understand what’s new, what’s real, and what you should know—especially here in Colorado.

What’s New—Why Everyone Is Talking

Increased reporting & changing definitions
The number of reported cases of Lyme disease has jumped—not always because more people are actually getting infected, but partly because of changes in how cases are counted. In 2022, updates to case definitions led to about a 70% increase in reported cases. Mayo Clinic News Network
More public awareness
Celebrities, media stories, and advocacy groups are shining light on Lyme disease (and other tick-borne illnesses). When people share their stories, it’s natural for more communities to wonder if they might be at risk. That’s good—it encourages prevention and early diagnosis. But it can also lead to anxiety or misunderstanding.
For example, Justin Timberlake recently revealed that he was diagnosed with Lyme disease, which brought renewed attention to tick risks. The Guardian
Ecosystem changes / climate change
Research has long shown that factors like climate change, land development, and changes in wildlife populations (ticks, mice, deer, etc.) can affect how diseases spread. Warmer, wetter seasons, or shifts in wildlife ecology, can make new areas more hospitable for ticks or for the bacteria they carry. AAMC+2NSF - National Science Foundation+2
Persistent symptoms & research
Another hot topic is what happens when someone has Lyme disease, gets treated, but continues to have symptoms (“post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome” or PTLDS). New studies are exploring how common this is, what might cause it, and how to better manage it. American Medical Association+1

So… What About Colorado? Is Lyme Disease a Real Concern Here?

Short answer: much less so than in many other parts of the U.S. But there are things to watch out for.

Here’s what the current evidence says for Colorado:

The specific tick that most often transmits Lyme disease (the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis, or in the west Ixodes pacificus) is not known to be endemic in Colorado. This means we generally don’t have self-sustaining populations of ticks that carry Borrelia burgdorferi (the Lyme bacterium) here. UCHealth+3CSU Office of Engagement+3UCHealth+3
There have been a few reported Lyme disease cases in people in Colorado over the years—but as far as public health tracking suggests, these cases were acquired outside Colorado (someone traveled to or lived in an area where Lyme is common). CSU Office of Engagement+2UCHealth+2
Other tick-borne illnesses are a more realistic concern here: Colorado tick fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, relapsing fever, tularemia, etc. UCHealth+2Summit Daily+2
Even though Lyme disease is not currently widespread here, tick activity is real—and more ticks means more risk for the diseases Colorado does get. So prevention and awareness are still important. Summit Daily+2CSU Office of Engagement+2

What You Should Know

Here are some practical tips & takeaways for our patients:

What We at Homestead Direct Primary Care Are Doing

Staying up to date on the latest research so we can give you evidence-based guidance.
Supporting early recognition of tick-borne illnesses.
Offering care coordination for people with ongoing symptoms.
Helping patients understand risk in their own areas (for example: where they hike, travel, etc.).

Take-Home Message

Lyme disease is real and increasing in many parts of the U.S.
In Colorado, the risk remains much lower than in endemic states, because the main tick vectors carrying Borrelia burgdorferi are not established here.
But that doesn’t mean “no risk” — tick-borne illnesses do happen, and prevention is key.
If you have symptoms after tick exposure, or travel to endemic areas, see us. Early treatment works well.

We hope this gives clarity about what all the Lyme disease talk means for you. If you have questions, or think you might have symptoms or exposure, don’t hesitate to reach out. Your health and peace of mind are what we’re here for.