The study will focus on patients newly diagnosed with Lyme disease as well as patients diagnosed with both Lyme and a parasite that causes the disease babesiosis.
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) announced millions of dollars in federal funding for research into tick-borne diseases. Cases have more than doubled in the last 10 years across the Northeast.
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With the COVID pandemic coming under control, lawmakers in the Hudson Valley and other Lyme disease hotspots hope attention, and money, return to tick-borne disease education and research.
It seems ticks were out in greater force in the spring than in recent history.
“The early data from our area in the Hudson Valley suggests that, at least for black-legged ticks, this is a greater than normal year,” says Ostfeld. “An average year is dangerous, and this is even more dangerous in 2021.”
Especially, says Dr. Rick Ostfeld, the nymph-stage tick, which was active in June and poses the greatest risk of disease transmission to people. On a personal note, Ostfeld says he also is seeing many more dog ticks. Republican state Senator Sue Serino also notices a tick surge.
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Paula Jackson Jones with Senator Susan Collins in Washington, D.C. Courtesy photo
The second annual Fly-In, hosted by Center for Lyme Action, was held on Wednesday, Feb. 24, entirely via Zoom. Advocates from around the country attended more than 200 meetings with senators, members of Congress, and their staff. Many staffers commented positively on the day and highlighted how it allowed constituents to access a platform in which they could voice their stories and communicate to their representatives.
At the event, this year’s Lyme Innovation Awards were presented by Linda Giampa, executive director of Bay Area Lyme Foundation and advisory board member Center for Lyme Action. These awards were given to dedicated public servants and private citizens who have worked to advance collaboration and innovation in Lyme disease. The winners were: