Senator Gillibrand Gives Update On Pending Legislation Providing Lyme Disease Funding: Research, Testing, Treatment, National Strategy

Senator Gillibrand held a video press conference about the proposed legislation she is championing in Congress to provide critical funding for Lyme disease research and treatment. 

This legislation would fund important research on tick-borne illnesses, particularly Lyme Disease.  This disease causes a host of symptoms, and for a long time doctors lacked understanding of the disease.  People were told that it was all in their head, even though their bodies were clearly being damaged by it.

One of the difficulties with Lyme disease is improper or missed diagnosis.  Next to this is insufficient treatment, as it is difficult to treat once it has become chronic.  Additionally, many times people do not find a tick, and very often there is no bull’s eye rash.  The deer ticks are so incredibly small that it is quite possible to not even know that you have been bitten.  Inspecting yourself after venturing outside, and changing your clothes after your trip are quite critical.  See our article published earlier today about the absolute easiest method of tick removal, and also our previous guide to removing a tick using essential oil.

As the senator shares during the meeting, she has herself been diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease in the past involving a four month course of antibiotics.  For many residents of New York state and the city, this is a real threat, especially for those who want to exercise outdoors.  As we’ve previously covered in reviews of Until the Streetlights Come On and Last Child in The Woods, outside recreation is critically important. It helps kids and adults develop better cognitive skills, along with a host of other benefits. 

 

As the senator says, New York residents should be able to go outside without worrying about contracting a devastating illness.  The impacts of Lyme disease, particularly when it goes untreated, on the brain and nervous system are extremely damaging.  

 

This caution also applies to the US military.  Many of the training areas for service members are in forested areas with rugged terrain.  This helps them to train in a realistic arena that is not simulated.  But where you have deer, you have ticks; where you have ticks, you have Lyme disease. 

 

Surveys of deer tick populations in New York have demonstrated that half of the ticks are infected with Lyme. So 50% of the time someone is bitten by a tick, they have a risk of serious infection.  What the senator didn’t mention is that Lyme is not the only tick borne illness, though it is most prevalent in our area.  Rocky Mountain Spotted fever has made its way east from the Rocky Mountains in recent years.  

 

As Senator Gillibrand mentioned, the requested funding includes: $30M for CDC work including research; $30M for the K.Hagan Foundation;  $9M for DoD tick research; and $130M for Lyme programs at the NIH. 

 

She looks forward to working with her colleagues in Congress to pass this important legislation for Lyme disease so that our military readiness and the overall health our populations and communities can be improved. 

 

The senator’s discussion about the Farm Bill in response to an off-topic question will be covered in a separate article. 

Banner Image: Video cover. Image Credit – Staten Islander News