The facts:

• Le Roy is in upstate NY, a LD hotspot.
• Some of the girls first noticed problems in the autumn, a prime breeding and feeding period for ticks.
• Toxic exposure to students is being investigated due to natural gas fracturing in the area and a 60,000 gallon trichloroethylene spill from a previous freight train accident.  If detected, the      student’s immune systems could have compromised their ability to combat all diseases.

I can only assume that LD was explored as a cause of this outbreak.  But, without the proper testing or physician experience, we all know the probable diagnosis, and more so, the denial.  In fact, like many unexplained illnesses, psychologists are calling this a type of mass hysteria or  neuropsychiatric syndrome.  This always frustrates me to no end.  It’s like saying rape is the women’s own fault.  Disgraceful!

I hope the parents of these young women have the good sense to seek out a reputable Lyme Literate doctor before it progresses too far.  And if they do not have LD, even better.

To all the families. I wish you all the very best,

Rob

Denise Longman has suffered for 26 years with Lyme disease after she was infected from a tick bite while holidaying in Scotland.

And now the 60 year old is determined to improve the profile of the disease, which she claims is wide-spread in the UK and misdiagnosed by doctors.

At present, more than 1,000 people have signed her petition which is being presented at Downing Street on Wednesday May 9.

It is demanding for special clinics to be set up to deal with the infected, and for doctors to receive more training in tick-borne infections.

Meanwhile, Mrs Longman is also calling for improvements to be made to treatment by giving suffering antibiotics until they are better.

She said: “Only people with pots of money are getting treatment. My life has been ruined by Lyme disease. I cannot afford private treatment and I never expected the NHS to be denying the science of long-term infection in Lyme. They are not even trying different protocols to address the matter. Are they frightened of using too many antibiotics on people? Why do they give people with Acne antibiotics for years and not be bothered. Why aren’t they helping us?”

For the complete article: http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/health/reydon_woman_s_petition_bid_to_put_lyme_disease_in_spotlight_1_1194389

Ticks that can transmit Lyme disease may be more prevalent in the UK than realised, say researchers who have found out how many dogs harbour them.

Experts have suspected for some time that the UK has a growing problem with these tiny pests – rates of the disease have been creeping up in recent years.

In 2010 there were 953 reported cases in England and Wales.

Now, after doing random checks on over 3,500 dogs, Bristol University experts suspects the problem is even bigger.

Of the 3,534 pet dogs inspected at veterinary clinics in the UK between March and October 2009, 14.9% had ticks.

Of these, 2.3% turned out to be infected.

The expected prevalence of infected ticks on dogs is 0.5% or 481 infected ticks per 100,000 dogs.

This suggests that the prevalence of this Borrelia infection in the UK tick population is considerably higher than previously thought, the researchers report in the journal Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

For the complete article:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16706942

The state is seeing a shocking increase in the number of deer ticks that can carry Lyme disease, prompting concerns that it will lead to more cases of the illness, insect experts said Wednesday.

A group that includes the state health and wildlife agencies is working to sort out what risks may be posed by last year’s spike in confirmed deer ticks, also known as black-legged ticks, and how best to spread the word and keep people safe. The experts believe the higher numbers are a sign of tick population growth, not simply the result of more active searching last year.

It’s unclear what spurred the increase, though researchers suspect one factor is favorable weather conditions that helped more of the tick population survive and thrive.

For the complete article:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46048358

And yes, I spoke with a Philadelphia doctor – one at a well-known university. She did not argue that sexual transmission is a possibility being that Lyme is much like syphilis in its spirochete form. She urged people to use protection and avoid cuts, legions, etc. in the genital area, which would make Lyme easier to penetrate the skin. She also consulted with her superior who said that he had heard of many couples claiming they are convinced they infected each other. But again, just like I said in the last story, he said that there were no studies done to verify this theory.

From the last article I wrote making a rather bold and provocative statement about Lyme disease being sexually transmitted, it seemed to peak a lot of interest – and controversy.

I received multiple comments on the article itself and e-mails from curious readers who are eager to know more information.

Much to my surprise, I also found an e-mail in my inbox from the Center for Disease Control from the telltale cdc.gov Web site.

It read as follows:

“Hi Cassie – I work in media relations for the CDC and was interested to see your recent story on Lyme disease. It refers to a ‘recent statement’ by CDC. Our Lyme disease experts were not aware of any recent …”

For the complete article:  http://www.examiner.com/relationships-in-philadelphia/lyme-disease-sexually-transmitted-part-ii

Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (in which symptoms persist after antibiotic treatment) have spent decades fending off charges that their debilitating exhaustion and cognitive problems were simply imagined. But a study released last February provides tangible evidence that their conditions are real and distinct entities.

To read rhe study: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0017287

Our own CDC (Centers for Disease Control) acknowledges the underreporting of Lyme disease and the faulty testing available but offer no solutions. Testing is available through labs who have a more sensitive Lyme test, however, patients are forced to self pay for this testing. Why? Research being done by organizations specializing in Lyme disease is being ignored and our CDC should be asking why!

Excerpted from Metrowest Daily News ( Posted: 12/21/2011

As part of his ongoing effort to address the devastating impact of Lyme disease, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) today announced that the annual spending bill that funds the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) calls for greater focus on the issue.

Wolf said report language accompanying the FY 2012 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill approved in the House on December 15 and signed into law on December 17 encourages the CDC to:

• Expand its activities related to developing sensitive and more accurate diagnostic tools and tests for Lyme disease, including the evaluation of emerging diagnostic methods and improving utilization of diagnostic testing to account for the multiple clinical manifestations of acute and chronic Lyme disease;
• Expand its epidemiological research activities on tick-borne diseases to include an objective to determine the long-term course of illness for Lyme disease and to improve surveillance and reporting of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases in order to produce more accurate data;
• Evaluate the feasibility of developing a national reporting system in Lyme disease, including laboratory reporting; and
• Expand prevention of Lyme and tick-borne diseases through increased community-based public education and creating a physician education program that includes the full spectrum of scientific research on the diseases.

Wolf, who pushed for the language in the bill, has long been an advocate for victims of Lyme disease.  He has hosted forums in the 10^th District to help educate area residents about the dangers of Lyme and how to protect themselves from tick bites.  In addition, he encouraged Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell to establish a Lyme disease task force to examine how Virginians can prevent and treat this illness.  The panel held public hearings and meetings throughout the Commonwealth and unanimously reported its findings in June.

For the complete article:  http://fairfaxnews.com/2011/12/wolf-pushes-cdc-on-lyme-disease/