According to the CDC, Pennsylvania has more Lyme disease cases than any other of the United States. This is due to the fact that, first of all, Pennsylvania is a population-dense state and so when comparing epidemiology per state, this state will rise to the top. In this blog post we will explore a few resources for Lyme sufferers in PA, and also look at the Lyme disease rates in PA per county.

From the LDA of PA, the following statistic is fascinating:

40% of all 848 residential households responded to the survey, representing 978 individuals who constitute ~30% of the entire township population. 47% of households had one or more individuals who currently have Lyme disease or had it in the past. Of the 948 individuals responding, 21% currently have Lyme disease or had it in the past. These returns surely indicate an epidemic of Lyme disease. There is good reason to think that these results do represent the entire Southeastern Pennsylvania region.

The first resource is the Lyme disease association of PA, http://www.lymediseasepa.com/, where you can get connected with local resources.

This organization also has a blog, which has updates on Lyme cases in PA: http://www.lymediseasepa.com/blog/

Another central support group is the LDA of Southeastern PA, http://www.lymepa.org/, which is a larger and more well-known support group.

From their website, here are local support groups who can help you get connected if you live in PA:

We know that some people can’t travel at night, or can’t make a particular meeting or are attracted to a special event within a reasonable driving distance. We hope this page will help bring the regional support groups in closer contact.

Updated Feb 22, 2009:

Bucks County and Lyme Disease Society Support Group
Meetings: 2nd Sunday of the month at 7:00 PM in the Doylestown Hospital Conference Room J, Doylestown, PA
 MapQuest Map =>   Director: Mary Halinski Email: lymesociety@aol.com

Cecil County Lyme and Associated Diseases Society Support Group
Cecil County Library, Elkton Branch, Elkton, MD 7:00 PM Next Meeting Details =>
Contact Judy Hart  jhart03@earthlink.net        Google Map

Central Pennsylvania Lyme Disease Support Group
Meetings: 7:00 PM, first Wednesday of each month at Evangelical Community Hospital, Conference Room D & E, Hospital Drive (Route 15) in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Directions => Our group coordinator is Larry Reese, telephone number 570-538-5600, his email address is lreese@chilitech.net.

Delaware Lyme Support has its own web site. Meetings are held in the Kirkwood Highway Library, the second Saturday of the month from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM.. 
 http://www.delawarelymesupport.org   MapQuest Map

Harford County Maryland Lyme Disease Support Group has stopped monthly meetings For information: Call 410-838-LYME (5963) E-mail JGLYME@aol.com 
May 10, 2007 special meeting Details =>             MapQuest Map  

Lyme Disease Association of Eastern Shore Maryland meets in a NEW LOCATION, the Greater Salisbury Building across the street from the Wicomico Library in Salisbury, Maryland. Contact by E-mail: LymeDAESM@verizon.net
Google Map ==>      Next Meeting Details =>  

Lyme Disease Christian Support Group meets monthly at 7:00 PM in the Mt. Airy Bible Church, 16700 Old Frederick Rd. Mt. Airy, MD 21771 (In the upper sanctuary.)  Lyme Disease Christian Support Group web page  MapQuest Map

Mid-Shore Lyme Disease Association, Next meeting will be held after February 2007 in new location. Details will be posted here when we get them. Contact Linda Reilly at 410-822-3164 or Email  scenic@dmv.com

NYPenn Lyme Disease Support Group for North Central PA and South Central NY Meeting 7 PM on the second Monday of every month (even months) at the Millerton Wesleyan Church, RT. 328 Millerton, PA and on odd months at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 171 West Pulteney Street, Corning, NY. [Mapquest map]  Contact Linda @ 570-537-6616  Email: jalmwales@npacc.net

Southern Delaware Lyme Support Group Meeting the first Friday of the month at the South Coastal Library 43 Kent Avenue in Bethany Beach, Delaware For information, call after 1:30 PM Monday thru Friday. Saturday and Sunday any time, and leave a message. Contact person: Debbie Lamb/Houston Email: justme_dj54@hotmail.com Phone #: 302-541-4623 
Google Map ==>

York Lyme Disease Support Group
Meets 3rd Sundays 3-5 PM at in York, PA  Next Meeting Details & Directions =>
Contact: Gail Sheffer gsheffer@ptd.net    Google Map =>

UPDATE ON SUPPORT GROUP LOCATIONS AS OF 12/28/08:

Thanks,

Sue

Lyme Incidence by County

Here are cases of Lyme disease in PA by county, measuring the incidence of 1 case per 100,000 people:

Area	County	2005	2006	5 YR AVE 1/100,000 Cases
SC	Adams	45.53	52.95	52.95
SW	Allegheny	2.05	0.94	1.72
SW	Armstrong	8.37	6.98	5.02
SW	Beaver	*	*	1.45
SC	Bedford	0.00	*	5.21
SE	Berks	97.09	62.81	76.73
SC	Blair	*	*	1.41
NC	Bradford	6.37	*	5.73
SE	Bucks	79.29	55.21	69.10
SW	Butler	25.83	39.31	22.01
SW	Cambria	2.66	0.00	2.13
NW	Cameron	376.52	154.03	205.37
NE	Carbon	10.05	13.40	8.04
NC	Centre	13.72	14.44	15.02
SE	Chester	139.95	101.96	144.62
NW	Clarion	*	*	2.42
NW	Clearfield	67.31	57.69	59.85
NC	Clinton	21.23	18.58	15.92
NC	Columbia	20.27	14.03	15.28
NW	Crawford	*	0.00	2.89
SC	Cumberland	15.16	26.18	19.38
SC	Dauphin	27.28	26.88	21.35
SE	Delaware	33.79	32.34	39.53
NW	Elk	133.51	107.39	92.88
NW	Erie	4.28	2.14	3.28
SW	Fayette	*	2.73	2.73
NW	Forest	*	*	8.18
SC	Franklin	25.84	22.80	16.57
SC	Fulton	27.85	34.81	15.32
SW	Greene	0.00	*	1.48
SC	Huntingdon	0.00	*	*
SW	Indiana	0.00	0.00	1.80
NW	Jefferson	48.02	26.19	17.90
SC	Juniata	0.00	*	2.64
NE	Lackawanna	*	*	3.13
SE	Lancaster	43.05	29.88	35.52
NW	Lawrence	0.00	0.00	1.49
SC	Lebanon	43.73	37.13	38.28
NE	Lehigh	54.80	31.81	44.47
NE	Luzerne	2.54	*	5.47
NC	Lycoming	5.88	7.56	8.74
NW	McKean	8.91	13.37	14.70
NW	Mercer	*	*	2.18
SC	Mifflin	*	*	3.88
NE	Monroe	51.06	14.11	29.97
SE	Montgomery	67.58	60.14	65.46
NC	Montour	27.45	27.45	17.57
NE	Northampton	58.17	34.03	56.12
NC	Northumberland	0.00	*	7.07
SC	Perry	41.02	31.91	24.61
SE	Philadelphia	11.26	9.05	10.70
NE	Pike	91.83	53.90	60.68

Finally, here are some key facts on Lyme in PA: