Lyme disease is a potentially serious bacterial infection that is spread by bites from infected blacklegged ticks and deer ticks. The bacterium, called Borrelia burgdorferi, causes more than 300,000 illnesses each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The prevalence of Lyme disease is increasing in the United States and according to a recent Quest Diagnostics Health Trends report, it has spread to all 50 United States and the District of Columbia.

Joining me today to discuss the report is Harvey W. Kaufman, M.D., Dr Kaufman is the senior medical director for Quest Diagnostics and head of the company’s Health Trends research program.