Lyme Handbook

JACKSON, N.J., July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The Lyme Disease Association (LDA) announces that the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, & Human Rights, will hold a hearing 2PM, July 17, 2012, 2172 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC (Congressman Christopher Smith (NJ), hearing chair).

Global Challenges in Diagnosing and Managing Lyme Disease – Closing Knowledge Gaps will be webcast and available live via the Committee website http://www.hcfa.house.gov .

LDA President Pat Smith is presenting testimony on problems with doctors diagnosing and treating Lyme and with patients receiving treatment for Lyme.

According to Ms. Smith, “This event is long overdue for Lyme patients since they still have difficulty getting diagnosed and treated. Lyme disease numbers have continued to rise nationwide and throughout the world. CDC indicated Lyme, 7th highest in disease incidence, surpassed HIV in incidence in 2009. LDA developed a pie chart using CDC reported Lyme cases for 2010 showing that 9 Northeastern states had 66% of the case reports and the remainder of the country had 34% of reported Lyme cases [see www.LymeDiseaseAssociation.org]. Experts are seeing a significant increase in ticks and tick-borne diseases in 2012.”

Lyme is found in ~65 countries worldwide. From May-July, LDA had an electronic billboard in Times Square, presenting that Lyme disease is found throughout the body and all over the world.

Bills calling for a federal advisory committee on Lyme and tick-borne disease with representation from patients, voluntary Lyme organizations, and from doctors and scientists from a broad spectrum of viewpoints on Lyme have been introduced in Congress. (Rep. Christopher Smith, HR-2557; Senator Blumenthal, S-1381).

Read more at: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lyme-disease-association-announces-us-house-of-representatives-global-health-subcommittee-lyme-hearing-162568706.html