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Battling the Threat of Lyme Disease
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
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Over the past several years, cases of Lyme disease have soared in our area, with reported cases more than doubling in Virginia between 2006 and 2007 (357 to 959). But even that troubling number may significantly underestimate the prevalence of the disease that often goes undetected because of its flu-like symptoms — headaches, fever, muscle aches and fatigue. Lyme disease can be misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus or other autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases, because of similar symptoms.
Last summer when Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) held a forum on Lyme disease, nearly 300 people turned out to learn more about the disease, hear from local experts, and share their experiences. Some local residents — young high school students, for example — had been reduced to using wheelchairs due to the impact of Lyme, which when not treated early enough can lead to heart and joint problems, Bell’s palsy or arthritis and be profoundly debilitating. The disease has spread along the East Coast, starting in Connecticut where a group of cases was first identified in Lyme in 1975. The spread of infected ticks in our region has increased as more farmland has become residential areas and deer — the primary hosts for ticks — have become more commonly found wandering through our back yards, local parks or common areas.
While Congressman Wolf is working to get more federal attention and funding to address Lyme disease, ongoing public education efforts about the presence of Lyme in Virginia are important to insure that the disease is better understood and better reported. Next week, on July 22, Supervisors Herrity and Frey will be hosting experts at a Town Hall Meeting at Centreville High School to raise awareness of the dangers of Lyme disease and the practical steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of contracting the disease.
In addition, Virginia might also look to legislation recently passed in Connecticut, where Gov. Jodi Rell signed the Lyme disease doctor protection bill, which will protect Lyme disease treating physicians from prosecution by the State Medical Examining Board solely on the basis of a clinical diagnosis and /or for treatment of long-term Lyme disease.
According to the advocates of this legislation, one of the burdens of Lyme disease is finding treatment from physicians who are knowledgeable about Lyme disease. While there is disagreement among medical experts about treatments and even the existence of long-term Lyme disease, the Connecticut State Medical Society supported the legislation because it frees physicians from undue liability threats in evaluating the disease and providing a variety of treatment options. "Doctors will have the right to use treatment guidelines based on their clinical experience and best medical judgment," Governor Rell said. "This bill does not, however, shield any physician who provides substandard care."
Connecticut is only the third state in the nation to have a law that protects physicians who treat Lyme disease long term, but with Virginia’s incidence of Lyme disease increasing, we should continue to look for ways we can improve reporting and education efforts, as well as find ways we can provide our physicians the ability to meet the treatment needs of their patients without undue liability threats.
By Barbara Comstock
Barbara Comstock is a resident of McLean and the Republican candidate for the 34th District House of Delegates seat.
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