Thank you for taking part in the Climate Impact Census. You indicated in your survey that you would like to see updates on the data collection and press coverage, which we have included below.
Initial data from the Climate Impact Census contains some striking numbers on the personal costs of Lyme disease to Americans. While many Americans are unfamiliar with the links between tick-borne illness and climate change, even fewer know the devastating financial and personal toll the illness can take. The time that you have taken to fill out the survey has shed significant light on the human costs of tick-borne illness.
Some preliminary findings from our tick-borne illness survey include:
- More than half reported having spent at least $30,000, and one-third at least $75,000, on medical-related expenditures over the course of their illness. A little over 10% reported spending more than $200,000
- In addition to these high out-of-pocket medical expenses, the most common hardships from tick-borne illnesses reported were debt (credit card, friends, family or others); liquidated assets (e.g. homes, retirement savings); terminated or interrupted careers; lost relationships; and reliance on public assistance (e.g. disability, unemployment)
- 60% reported suffering at least two of these hardships; 40% at least three; and 15% at least four.
- More than half reported becoming in debt as a result of their illness
- 40% had sold off assets (e.g. homes), liquidated some or all of their retirement savings, or liquidated some or all of their children’s college funds.
- 45% lost their careers, and over 60% experienced some form of career loss or interruption.
And the press is paying attention. A recent Op-ed in the science publication, Undark, recently used the Climate Impact Census to illustrate the depth of financial harm to individuals caused by Lyme disease, and called for more research funding. You can read the article here:
https://undark.org/2018/09/06/lyme-research-funding
You can also hear the two directors of the Climate Cost Project interviewed about the project and the importance of getting more data on the personal costs of Lyme disease on WHMP radio here:
https://soundcloud.com/whmp/estimating-the-cost-of-lyme-disease
Thank you again for your participation in the survey. Your response is helping to bring texture and depth to much needed news coverage on the real impact of tick-borne illness on the lives of Americans. The more responses we have, the more data and depth we are able to provide to coverage of the issue. If you have any friends or family who have been affected by Lyme disease, please help spread the word by sending them the survey:
https://www.climatecostproject.org/cic-individual
We also encourage you to reach out to us (info@climatecostproject.org) with any questions or ideas that you might have about the data and how it can be used. Thank you so much for your time.
Kind regards,
Climate Cost Project Team
