Welcome to the Lyme Disease Resource Center

Lyme disease gets its name from a small coastal town in Connecticut called Lyme.  In 1975, a woman brought to the attention of Yale researchers an unusual cluster of more than 51 cases of mostly pediatric arthritis.  In 1977, Dr. Allen Steere and Yale colleagues identified and named the 51 clusters “Lyme arthritis." In 1979, the name was changed to "Lyme disease," when Steere and colleague Dr. Steven Malawista discovered additional symptoms linked to the disease such as possible neurological problems and severe fatigue. In 1982 the cause of the disease was discovered by Dr. Willy Burgdorfer. Dr. Burgdorfer published a paper on the infectious agent of Lyme disease and earned the right to have his name placed on the Lyme disease spirochete now known as Borrelia burgdorferi.

To Submit a Disease Report:
Tel: 800 821 5821
Fax: 800 293 7534

For More Information About Tick-borne Diseases:
Tel: Tel: 207 287-7267
Fax: 207 287-8186
amy.sonricker@maine.gov

You may also visit the Federal CDC website at CDC.gov