Alabama Lyme Disease Association Has Representation on Commission Established by the Alabama House of Representatives to Study Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Illnesses
Montgomery, AL (PRWEB) June 09, 2015 -- The Alabama House of Representatives recently established a first-of-its-kind group to study a potential threat to your health that could be lurking in your backyard: Lyme disease and other illnesses transmitted through ticks in Alabama.
House Resolution 370, sponsored by state Rep. Becky Nordgren, charges the Alabama Study Commission on Tick Borne Illnesses with studying the illnesses and making suggestions for treatment and eradication in Alabama. Click here to read the full resolution:
Nordgren, state Rep. Randy Davis and one representative each from the Hudson Alpha Institute of Biotechnology, Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, the Medical Association of Alabama and the Alabama Lyme Disease Association comprise the commission. The group will meet periodically throughout the summer and fall and report their findings to the Alabama speaker of the house in January.
Alabama Lyme Disease Association president Kevin Wolfe, who will serve on the commission, said the group’s formation is an important step in helping doctors and others in the medical community understand the prevalence of Lyme and other diseases transmitted by ticks in Alabama.
"It’s critical for physicians to understand that we have Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses in Alabama, that it needs to be treated and they know what treatments are available,” Wolfe said. “This commission is an important and vital step toward improving care for patients in Alabama.”
Lyme disease is often called “the Great Imitator” because the symptoms mimic those of hundreds of other illnesses. There is currently no reliable test to determine if someone has contracted Lyme disease or if they have been cured.
While the Alabama Department of Public Health has declared Lyme disease endemic in seven counties, patients often face difficultly obtaining an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Most have to travel to out-of-state doctors specializing in the treatment of Lyme and other diseases transmitted by ticks.
The Alabama Lyme Disease Association rose out of the difficulty in finding an accurate diagnosis and treatment for Wolfe and countless other Alabamians. Since starting in 2012, the association has grown from a handful of patients and family members to several hundred patients and volunteers assisting other patients, educating the public and advocating for better diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne illnesses.
For more information about Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses in Alabama, go to http://www.alabamalymedisease.com.
Kevin Wolfe, Alabama Lyme Disease Association, http://AlabamaLymeDisease.org, +1 (334) 868-9138, [email protected]
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