Correlating NDVI with Lyme Disease in Massachusetts
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Lyme disease is a multisystemic infection from Borellia burgdorferi, transmitted by multiple tick species in North America between mammals and birds. These ticks and their infections are common during warmer months, with warmer seasons lasting longer with shorter, less extreme winters, allowing for greater vegetation growth. In humans, the early stages of Lyme disease begin with flu-like symptoms and later impact the cardiovascular, nervous, and integumentary systems. A recent study from Yale suggests that the minimum annual economic burden from Lyme disease is approximately $1 billion USD. One of the ways we can measure and predict tick habitat and measure changes in seasonal variations is through the use of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). In this study, we propose that high NDVI values can be correlated with high Lyme disease reports. We analyzed the NDVI values and Lyme disease reports in Massachusetts counties for the years 2001 - 2021. These findings may be useful for considering how Lyme Disease-related needs within the state may be associated with climate change and may help with future modeling for better resource allocation.
Author: Berg, Laura
Institution: Salem State University
Language: English
Subfield: Parasitology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7214379679