March 16, 2015

Diane Steward, Committee Clerk
Legislative Information Office
100 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333

Testimony from: Lyme Disease Association, Inc.

a national non-profit raising funds for research, education, prevention, patient support

To: Committee On Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development (3-17-15)

To Chairs: Senator Amy Volk and Representative Erin Herbig

At this time, your committee is considering “An Act To Improve Access to Treatments for Lyme Disease,” a worthy goal to help the public prevent future cases of chronic Lyme disease and to help those already afflicted. That goal is an integral part of the mission of the Lyme Disease Association, Inc. (LDA), designated by IRS as a public charity operating under 501(c) (3) non-profit status. (EIN # 22- 3123551, Maine Charities License # CO3875), thus we support the passage of the Act.

According to CDC, the incidence of Lyme surpassed the incidence of HIV in 20091 i─only sexually transmitted diseases, salmonella, strep, fungal disease, and the flu had higher incidence rates. CDC also said in 2012 that Lyme was the 7th highest reportable diseaseii

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) confirmed in 2013 that Lyme disease is underreported by a factor of 10 in the US, thus in 2013, 300,000 new cases of Lyme occurred in the US alone, and cases have been reported in all 50 states at some time during the surveillance period 1990- through 2013. Additionally, Lyme disease is found in over 80 countries worldwide.

According to the last available official federal Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) annual case numbers, Maine reported 1,373 cases to the federal CDC in 2013, almost 4% of the US case totals, representing 13,730 cases which occurred in Maine. In 2013, Vermont (107.6), New Hampshire (100.0), and Maine (84.8) ranked 1,2,3, respectively, in the US in incidence of Lyme: cases per 100,000 of population.

Early intervention and appropriate treatment are the answers for patients with Lyme to prevent the development of chronic Lyme disease, aka, post treatment Lyme disease, late disseminated Lyme, etc. According to a Columbia University Lyme study, based upon 10-fold underreporting and on 10% of newly infected and treated patients developing symptoms that persist for more than 6 months, “the actual incidence of new chronic cases (PTLS) is…30,000” annuallyiii─ many of them children, who often miss months/years of school and have their childhood destroyed. Showering, walking, talking, thinking can be a problem, and serious pain is a daily challenge. Children  are at the highest risk of acquiring Lyme disease, and based on CDC’s Lyme reported cases numbers from 2001-2010 by age, LDA estimates that 37% of reported cases were children, ages 0-18. iv Additionally, Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochete that causes Lyme has the ability to cross the placenta and cause birth defects or death of the fetus.