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Appendix F: Supplemental Information for
Analyses in the Infectious Diseases Chapter

This appendix describes methods, data sources, and assumptions for the infectious
disease analyses presented in Chapter 7 of the main report. The first section of this appendix
provides information on the detailed analysis of Lyme disease. The second section provides
information supporting the discussion of emerging literature related to West Nile Virus.

Detailed Analysis of Lyme Disease in
Children

This section includes details of the analysis on climate change effects on Lyme disease incidence in
children, organized into the following subsections: a summary of studies used in the analysis, analysis
steps, detailed results, and limitations of the approach.

SUMMARY OF STUDIES USED IN THIS ANALYSIS

YANG ETAL. (IN REVIEW)1

Yang et al. studied the associations between temperature, precipitation, land cover, tick presence,
bacteria presence, and Lyme disease incidence in 21 eastern U.S. states and the District of Columbia,
where Lyme is currently prevalent*, and then assigned estimates of the costs of changes in disease
incidence. The author team projected the probability of Ixodes scapularis, the most common Lyme
disease vector within the region, based on the tick species presence, the presence of Borrelia
burgdorferi, the bacteria responsible for causing Lyme disease, and environmental factors. The
authors determined a Lyme disease incidence rate at the county level for children (aged 0-20) and
adults from data on confirmed and probable cases provided by the U.S. CDC, which served as the
baseline. They then related these historical associations to projections from six different climate
models (CanESM2, CCSM4, GISS E2 R, HadGEM2 ES, MIROC5, and GFDL CM3) using variables for
precipitation and temperature, to assess future changes to potential tick habitat. Results suggest that
warming is likely to increase overall Lyme disease incidence in the eastern U.S. For details on the
model coefficients (and standard errors) used for projections purposes, see Yang et al.

ANALYSIS STEPS

Chapter 7 of this report describes how Lyme disease incidence could vary among children as the
climate continues to change. The analysis relies on data from Yang et al. and presents the results in
an impacts-by-degree format. In addition to converting between CONUS degrees of warming to
global degrees of warming, the other adjustment made to the projections from Yang et al. is refining

* The states included in the analysis are Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin; as well as the District of Columbia.

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the definition of children to match the definition used in this report (aged 0-17). To do that, the case
rates per 100,000 children aged 0-20 are applied to children aged 0-17 instead. Available case data
show that children aged 5-9 have the highest case rate across all age groups; therefore, it is possible
this approach leads to an under-estimation of cases among children in the 0-17 age range, although
it is also possible that this approach over-estimates cases.2 The analysis considers all areas of the
eastern U.S. included in the underlying study and is performed at the county level. Results also are
interpreted at the census tract-level, with identical incidence rates assumed for all tracts within a
county, for the social vulnerability analysis.

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Table 1: Analytic Steps in Climate Change Impacts on Lyme Disease in Children Analysis

Step

Data

Methods, Assumptions, and Notes

Baseline Risks

1. Identify baseline
incidence of health
impacts under baseline
Lyme disease exposure
and population

Yang et al. and U.S. Census data

Modeled using baseline incidence per 100,000 children aged 0-20
from Yang et al., and baseline population of children aged 0-17
from the U.S. Census.

Future Climate
Stressor

2. Forecast future
temperature and
precipitation patterns
associated with the tick
vector

Future climate: LOCA (downscaled) future
climate data at the census tract level

Environmental function: Yang et al.

This analysis relies on the analysis completed in Yang et al. that
model Lyme disease incidence and changes in temperature and
precipitation patterns and associated those with tick habitat
suitability. See the paper for details.

Future Effects on
Children

3. Estimate the
incidence of health
impacts among children
associated with each
degree-C increase in
global mean
temperatures

Yang et al. created a model related estimated
habitat suitability for the ticks, B. burgdorferi
presence, and Lyme disease incidence. See
paper for details.

See Chapter 2 of the main report and Appendix
A for details on population methods and data
sources used throughout the analysis.

This assessment relies on the analysis completed in Yang et al. See
that paper for details.

Given the unique spatial patterns in the underlying data, results
are presented by National Climate Assessment (NCA) region.

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EFFECTS ON CHILDREN RESULTS

Figure 1 presents the annual baseline new cases of Lyme disease each year among children aged 0-
17 in all counties in the eastern U.S. by National Climate Assessment (NCA) region, and projected
annual new cases for 1 to 4°C of global warming, using population growth consistent with EPA's
ICLUS population tool. For comparison, baseline annual new cases of Lyme disease appear in the far-
left bar column for each region.

Figure i: Projected Annual Total New Cases of Lyme Disease Among Children Aged 0-17 in the
Eastern U.S. by NCA Region (with Population Growth)

18,000
16,000
14,000
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000

Southeast	Northeast

¦ Baseline ¦ 1 Deg B2Deg «3Deg 1 4 Deg

Midwest

Notes: All estimates presented are not baseline corrected. See Table 1 of this appendix for details on methods and
data sources. Because the analysis only considers a sub-set of states; the results presented for the Southeast do not
reflect all counties or states in that NCA region.

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Table 2 depicts analogous results for the complete study area (and baseline corrected), with the total
number of new Lyme disease cases under population growth and assuming a consistent U.S.
population size using 2010 levels. See Chapter 2 and Appendix A for details of population projections.

Table 2: Projected New Cases of Lyme Disease Each Year in the Eastern U.S.

Degree of Global
Warming (°C)

With Population
Growth

Constant 2010
Population

rc

3,500
(-7,500 to 21,200)

2,800
(-7,500 to 19,000)

2°C

2,600
(-7,500 to 20,200)

1,700
(-7,700 to 19,000)

3°C

7,500
(-8,400 to 42,300)

6,100
(-8,400 to 38,200)

4°C

23,400
(7,800 to 47,000)

17,200
(5,500 to 35,700)

Notes: All estimates presented are incremental relative to baseline risks and convey
impacts among children aged 0-17 per year. The baseline is 8,600 cases in all 21
states and the District of Columbia in the underlying sample. Negative numbers imply
decreases in new cases relative to the baseline. The table displays the average and
range across climate models. Results are not available at 5°C.

Figure 2 shows the projected change in new annual Lyme cases per 100,000 children aged 0-17 at
2°C and 4°C of global warming at the county level. The five states with largest impacts per 100,000
children are outlined in black and listed below each map.

Tables 3 and 4 convey the number of new Lyme cases per 100,000 children annually for each state at
2°C and 4°C of global warming to provide perspective on the range of impacts across states, although
there can be considerable heterogeneity within the area of interest (see Figure 2).

Figure 3 shows the change in total new Lyme cases among children aged 0-17 at 2°C and 4°C of
global warming at the county level. Impacts are generally highest in areas with large populations of
children. The five states with the largest total impacts are outlined in black and listed below each
map. The relevant quantities presented in each map are provided in parentheses after the state
name in the lists of top 5 states.

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Figure 2: Projected Changes in New Cases of Lyme Disease Per 100,000 Children Each Year (Aged
0-17) (with Population Growth)

2°C of Global Warming

Top five states: ME (104), NH (102), VT (79), MN (54), Ml (22)
40C of Global Warming

Top five states: IA (267), MN (184), Ml (123), ME (115), NH (89)
-3,000 --1,000 -1,000--100 -100-0 0- 1,000 ¦ 1,000-3,000

3,000-6,300

Note: These maps describe the projected change in new Lyme disease cases per 100,000 children per year at 2°C
and 4°C of global warming relative to the baseline (1986-2005). Purple shading denotes increases in cases relative
to baseline while yellow shading denotes decreases in cases relative to baseline. The five states with the largest
increases on average are outlined in black.

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Table 3: Projected New Lyme Cases Per 100,000 Children Per Year by State with 2°C Global
Warming (with Population Growth)

State

Incidence Per 100,000
Children

State

Incidence Per 100,000
Children

Maine

103.7

Indiana

2.2

New Hampshire

101.5

Massachusetts

1.3

Vermont

78.9

Virginia

-0.01

Minnesota

53.8

Maryland

-2.1

Michigan

22.4

Delaware

-2.7

Washington, DC

20.6

Pennsylvania

-3.0

New York

19.7

Ohio

-5.2

Iowa

12.8

North Carolina

-10.4

New Jersey

10.4

West Virginia

-19.3

Wisconsin

4.4

Rhode Island

-29.5

Illinois

2.4

Connecticut

-46.9

Notes: This table describes the projected change in new Lyme disease cases per 100,000 children per year at 2°C
of global warming using the methods described in Table 1 averaged to the state level. States are listed from
largest to smallest impacts. Negative numbers signal reductions in new annual cases relative to baseline levels.

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Table 4: Projected New Lyme Cases Per 100,000 Children Per Year by State with 40C Global
Warming (with Population Growth)

State

Incidence Per 100,000
Children

State

Incidence Per 100,000
Children

Iowa

267.1

New Jersey

27.5

Minnesota

184.5

Ohio

25.0

Michigan

123.3

Rhode Island

22.7

Maine

114.7

Virginia

19.5

New Hampshire

89.3

Maryland

18.8

New York

80.6

Washington, DC

13.6

Indiana

78.0

Delaware

7.5

Pennsylvania

69.4

West Virginia

6.5

Massachusetts

60.0

Vermont

3.0

Wisconsin

58.4

Connecticut

-7.0

Illinois

40.5

North Carolina

-9.9

Notes: This table describes the projected change in new Lyme disease cases per 100,000 children per year at 4°C
of global warming using the methods described in Table 1 averaged to the state level. States are listed from
largest to smallest impacts. Negative numbers signal reductions in new annual cases relative to baseline levels.

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Figure 3: Estimated Changes in Total New Cases of Lyme Disease in Children (Aged 0-17) Per Year
(with Population Growth)

2°C of Global Warming

Top five states: NY (1,098), MN (766), Ml (569), NJ (293), NH (286)
40C of Global Warming

Top five states: NY (4,975), Ml (3,232), MN (2,753), IA (2,593), PA (1,982)

-260 --100 -100 --10 -10 -0 0- 100 ¦ 100 - 250 ¦ 250 - 1,730

Note: These maps describe the projected change in total new Lyme disease cases per year at 2°C and 4°C of global
warming relative to the baseline (1986-2005). Purple shading denotes increases in cases relative to baseline while
yellow shading denotes decreases in cases relative to baseline. The five states with the largest increases on average
are outlined in black.

Figure 6 describes the results of the social vulnerability analysis at 2°C and 4°C of global warming
across geographies included in the analysis (see Chapter 2 and Appendix Afor methods, data

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sources, and assumptions for the social vulnerability analysis). The estimated risks for each socially
vulnerable group are presented relative to each group's "reference" population, defined as all
individuals other than those in the group analyzed. Positive numbers indicate the group is
disproportionately affected by the referenced impact. Negative numbers indicate the group is less
likely to live in the areas with the highest projected impacts.

Figure 6: Social Vulnerability Analysis Results for New Lyme Disease Cases Among Children

2°C	4°C

Limited English Speaking	-30%

Low Income	-23%

BIPOC	-42%

No Health Insurance	-33%

-22%
-21%
-48%
-36%

American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian

Black or African American
Pacific Islander
Hispanic or Latino
White, non-Hispanic

LIMITATIONS

Below are several limitations of the analysis:

1.	Assumes case rates in children aged0-20 also applies to children aged0-i7:Yang et a I.
include all children aged 0-20 in one group. Because this report considers a narrower
definition of children (aged 0-17), the incidence rates per 100,000 among 0-20-year-old
children are also applied to 0-17-year-old children. Because children aged 5-9 have the
highest baseline case rate across all age groups, this approach likely leads to an under-
estimation of cases among children aged 0-17.

2.	Lyme disease cases are underreported and under diagnosed: Like many infectious diseases,
cases of Lyme disease are underreported to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention's
National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System. Additionally, Lyme disease symptoms mirror
those of other diseases, and misdiagnoses may occur. This also may occur in areas in which
Lyme disease is not prevalent or is not currently endemic. Therefore, the Yang et al. analysis
(and, thus, this analysis) likely underestimate Lyme disease prevalence.3

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3.	Only considers habitat and climate conditions, overlooking tick or host movement. Changes in
tick and host (e.g., humans, small mammals, birds, reptiles) behavior, play a role in exposure
to Lyme disease. Climate change may impact the range of host species that do/do not allow
for the replication of the B. burgdorferi bacteria. The spread of Lyme disease shifts as a result
of outdoor activities.4

4.	Only accounts for ticks in 22 states and Washington, DC, in the eastern U.S. A different
species of tick (western blacklegged tick, I. pacificus) is responsible for the majority of Lyme
disease cases throughout the western U.S. However, this species of tick does not transmit
Lyme disease as readily as its eastern counterpart, and Lyme disease cases in the West are
much less common.5 Further, there are many areas of the country that are adjacent to
locations where tick and bacteria are established, in which Lyme disease is not prevalent.6
Therefore, inclusion of these states would skew the analysis.

5.	Does not account for genotypic differences in tick populations. Subpopulations of ticks across
the country have different genotypes, with some subpopulations being more resilient to
overly hot, dry, or wet conditions.7 It is possible that if this analysis included forthose types
of genetic variations, it would provide a more accurate depiction of tick survival and
transmission of Lyme disease in endemic areas.

DATA SOURCES

Table 5: Summary of Data Sources Used in the Lyme Disease in Children Analysis

Data Type

Description

Data Documentation and
Availability

Historical climate modeling

Yang et al. relied on Livneh et al.
for baseline climate data
(precipitation, temperature) for
1986-2005. Livneh et al. data are
provided at a spatial resolution of
1/16° (~6 km).

Livneh, B., Bohn, T.J., Pierce, D.W.,
Munoz-Arriola, F., Nijssen, B., Vose,
R., Cayan, D.R. and Brekke, L,
2015. A spatially comprehensive,
hydrometeorological data set for
Mexico, the US, and Southern
Canada 1950-2013. Scientific Data,
¦2(1), pp.1-12.

Habitat suitability modeling

Habitat suitability for Yang et al.
was determined based in part on
forest cover and land use, via the
United States Geologic Survey's
(USGS) National Land Cover
Database (NLCD), which is
informed by EROS and provides
information on U.S. land cover and
land cover change for the years
2001-2019.

USGS. 2016. National Land Cover
Database. Last updated:
September 11, 2018. Retrieved
from:

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/ero

s/science/national-land-cover-

database

USGS EROS Elevation Derivatives
for National Application Seamless
Three-Dimensional Hydrologic
Database (EDNA) provides three-

USGS (2018) USGS EROS Archive -
Digital Elevation - Elevation
Derivatives for National
Applications (EDNA) Seamless
Three-Dimensional Hydrologic

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Data Type

Description

Data Documentation and
Availability



dimensional elevation data based
on hydrologic drainage.

Database. Last updated: July 13,
2018. Retrieved from:
https://www. usgs.gov/centers/ero
s/science/usgs-eros-archive-digital-
elevation-elevation-derivatives-
national?at-

science center obiects=0#at-
science center obiects

Tick and bacteria (Borrelia
burgdorferi) distribution

Tick and bacteria presence were
incorporated based on a dataset
indicator of being "established" in
a particular county, in which at
least 6 ticks, or ticks at a minimum
of two life stages, were observed
within the same 12-month period.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. "Established and
reported records of Borrelia
burgdorferi sensu stricto or
Borrelia mayonii through Dec. 31,

2021."	Last updated: October 21,

2022.	Retrieved from:
https://www. cdc.gov/ticks/surveill
ance/TickSurveillanceData.html

Baseline health effect incidence
rates

Lyme disease incidence at the
county level for the years 2008-
2019.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. "National
Notifiable Diseases Surveillance
System, Lyme Disease Surveillance
Data 2008-2019." Fort Collins, CO.
CDC Division of Vector-Borne
Diseases.

Future climate modeling
(temperature and precipitation)

See Appendix A for data sources



Future population of children

See Appendix A for data sources



Demographics for social
vulnerability analysis

See Appendix A for data sources



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West Nile Virus in Children

Chapter 7 highlights research about the possible effects of West Nile Virus on
children. This analysis estimates an additional 59 and 133 cases of West Nile
neuroinvasive disease (WNND) among children peryear at 2°C and 4°C of global warming,
respectively, based on Lindsey et al. (2009) and Belova et al. (2017).8,9 Belova et al. estimated the
future number of WNND cases among individuals of all ages associated with climate change in two
future eras: 2050 and 2090. The authors project an additional 1,270 cases of WNND in 2050 above a
baseline of 971 annual cases, rising to 3,280 additional cases in 2090. These estimates translate to
1,490 and 3,330 additional cases of WNND at 2°C and 4°C of global warming, respectively, using the
impact by degree approach described in Chapter 2 and Appendix A. Lindsey et al. found that child
patients accounted for about 4% of all WNND cases reported from 1999 to 2007. As a result, this
analysis estimates the number of children's cases of WNND attributable to climate change to be 4%
of the total cases of WNND projected in Belova et al., presented above and in Chapter 7.

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References

1	Yang, H., Gould, C.A., Jones, R., St. Juliana, A., Sarofim, M., Rissing, M., and Hahn, M. (in review) Modeling the by-

degree human health and economic impacts of Lyme disease in the eastern United States under climate change.

2	Schwartz, A.M., Hinckley, A.F., Mead, P.S., Hook, S.A. and Kugeler, K.J., 2017. Surveillance for lyme disease-

United States, 2008-2015. MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 66(22), p.l.

3	Schwartz, A.M., Kugeler, K.J., Nelson, C.A., Marx, G.E. and Hinckley, A.F., 2021. Use of commercial claims data for

evaluating trends in Lyme disease diagnoses, United States, 2010-2018. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 27(2),
p.499.

4	Eisen, R.J., Eisen, L, Ogden, N.H. and Beard, C.B., 2016. Linkages of weather and climate with Ixodes scapularis
and Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae), enzootic transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi, and Lyme disease in North
America. Journal of Medical Entomology, 53(2), pp.250-261.

5	Eisen, R.J., Eisen, L, Ogden, N.H. and Beard, C.B., 2016. Linkages of weather and climate with Ixodes scapularis
and Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae), enzootic transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi, and Lyme disease in North
America. Journal of Medical Entomology, 53(2), pp.250-261.

6	Burtis, J.C., Foster, E., Schwartz, A.M., Kugeler, K.J., Maes, S.E., Fleshman, A.C. and Eisen, R.J., 2022. Predicting
distributions of blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis), Lyme disease spirochetes (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu
stricto) and human Lyme disease cases in the eastern United States. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 13(5),

p. 102000.

7	Ginsberg, H.S., Rulison, E.L, Azevedo, A., Pang, G.C., Kuczaj, I.M., Tsao, J.I. and LeBrun, R.A., 2014. Comparison of

survival patterns of northern and southern genotypes of the North American tick Ixodes scapularis (Acari:
Ixodidae) under northern and southern conditions. Parasites & Vectors, 7(1), pp. 1-10.

8	Belova A, Mills D, Hall R, St. Juliana A, Crimmins A, and Jones R. 2017. Impacts of Increasing Temperature on the

Future Incidence of West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease in the United States. American Journal of Climate Change,
6,166-216.

9	Lindsey NP, Hayes EB, Stapes E, and Fischer M. 2009. West Nile Virus Disease in Children, United States, 1999-
2007. Pediatrics, 123(6):el084-el089.

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