Lyme disease in Poland in 2011.

INTRODUCTION: In Poland registration of all cases of Lyme disease is conducted by Epidemiological Unit of National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene. Most cases of Lyme disease occur in the North- East region of Poland; however it is important to note that the disease is no longer solely a problem of this region of Poland. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work is the assessment of the epidemiological situation of Lyme disease in Poland in 2011 as compared to the situation in the previous years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Assessment of the epidemiological situation of Lyme disease in Poland was made on the basis of an analysis of individual notifications of suspected Lyme disease submitted to NIZP-NIH by the Provincial Sanitary- Epidemiological stations; as well as data from "Infectious diseases and poisoning in Poland in 2011" bulletin, and "Preventative vaccination in Poland in 2011" bulletin (MP Czarkowski and Co, Warsaw 2012, NIZP- PZH, GIS). RESULTS: In 2011 there were 9 157 registered cases of Lyme disease and it is 2% higher than in the previous year. The overall incidence in the country amounted 23.8 per 100,000 population. The highest recorded in Podlaskie province 75.5 per 100,000 population. 2091 people were hospitalized due to Lyme disease. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS: In 2011 there was a tendency to slow down/inhibit the incidence of Lyme disease. The registered number of cases was comparable to the previous year. There is still fairly low percentage of confirmed cases by performing diagnostic test Western blot method.