COVID Impacts on Lyme Disease Reporting
In a new study published by the CDC, Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Reported Lyme Disease, United States, 2020, authors describe how the impacts of COVID-19 might have influenced Lyme […]
In a new study published by the CDC, Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Reported Lyme Disease, United States, 2020, authors describe how the impacts of COVID-19 might have influenced Lyme […]
New York Post’s, Brooke Steinberg, 03.07.24, published online, “Tick season is kicking off early this year — experts warn of Lyme disease risk.” Steinberg states that many northern states (NH, MN, NY) in the US are reporting tick activity earlier that usual this year, and warn that it could be a high risk year for ticks and tick-borne diseases. Mild winter temperatures are proposed as being responsible for this earlier than usual tick activity.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (Kugeler, k.J., et al. ) 02.15.2024, published “Surveillance for Lyme Disease After Implementation of a Revised Case Definition — United States, 2022.” This report describes the impact of the revised surveillance case definition in 2022. A total of 62,551 Lyme cases were reported to the CDC in 2022. This number, compared to an annual average of 37,118 cases reported from 2017-2019, was a 69% increase in case numbers. There was a 73% increase in high-incidence jurisdictions and a 10% increase in low-incidence jurisdictions.
EXPECTATIONS: The recent Bloomberg article on the upcoming Lyme disease vaccine was not a surprise but was certainly a disappointment to the Lyme community and the Lyme Disease Association Inc. (LDA). The reporter spent time tracking me down to do an interview, as she indicated to me, many in the Lyme Community had suggested to her that I should be interviewed, probably due to the LDA’s involvement in the Lyme scene during the prior vaccine withdrawal.
LDA INVOLVEMENT IN EARLY VACCINE: At the time the first Lyme OspA vaccine, LymeRix®, was receiving FDA approval, with the most provisos− according to the chairperson−the LDA was already more than a decade into educating about and providing research funds for Lyme disease. As LDA president, I was educating in NJ and elsewhere. The prevailing questions and comments were always the same: talk and questions about the vaccine− problems that many people said they/acquaintances were experiencing and attributing to the vaccine.
Rappahannock News published “Lyme disease is on the rise in Rappahannock. The pandemic obscured by how much.” In the past five years, Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District has seen a rise in cases of Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Anaplasmosis, and Ehrlichiosis. However, local residents and experts believe case numbers of tick-borne diseases have been vastly under-reported in Virginia.
May Awareness LDA Guest Blogger Sandy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, in private practice in Middletown, CT. She has worked with adolescents and families since 1987, gradually realizing that […]
The Lyme Disease Association announces that the House voted this week to pass a number of amendments to the NDAA, National Defense Authorization Act, including a Congressman Chris Smith amendment.
Elizabeth L. Maloney, MD, reviews the US trial evidence on EM rashes, problems of the IDSA recommendations considering that evidence, and provides evidence-based patient-centered strategies for managing patients with EM. “The EM rash is the hallmark finding of early disease,” along with other symptoms. “In light of the physical and financial costs, identifying and promoting highly effective therapeutic interventions for US patients with erythema migrans (EM) rashes that return them to their pre-infection health status should be a priority.”
Data from a survey of respondents with self-reported tick bite encounters who concurrently reported a clinical or serological Lyme disease (LD) diagnosis from non-endemic states for Lyme disease was published […]
Lyme Disease Association (LDA) Announces CDC’s 2019 Final Lyme Disease Reported Case Numbers: The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has just released the 2019 final Lyme disease reported […]
LDA Doctor Referral System © Terms & Conditions and Guidelines
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About LDA DOCTOR REFERRAL SYSTEM ©
Welcome to the Lyme Disease Association’s LDA Doctor Referral System ©. LDA made updates and enhancements to its prior system and has launched a new site to provide patients with information about doctors, other practitioners, testing labs, and pharmacies that are knowledgeable about chronic Lyme disease and often about many other tick-borne diseases (TBD). Many of the doctors listed are often referred to as Lyme Literate Physicians/Doctors (LLMD). Tens of thousands of patients have successfully used the prior LDA system to locate Lyme and TBD resources.
Terms & Conditions and Guidelines
Because there is a negative political climate surrounding Lyme disease, many LLMDs do not want their names posted outright on the internet. LDA has tried to balance the doctors’ wishes with patients’ need to find a doctor. This new system is a result of that compromise and therefore:
Because of the limited number of physicians treating chronic Lyme disease nationwide, some states, and in some instances, entire regions, may not have any treating physicians who follow flexible treating approaches such as those in the International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) Guidelines, Evidence Assessments and Guideline Recommendations in Lyme Disease: The Clinical Management of Known Tick Bites, Erythema Migrans Rashes and Persistent Disease. In the event that the LDA Doctor Referral System © contains no Lyme or TBD resource listings in a given area, the closest possible option(s) will populate based on the location entered and specaialty/ies selected. The LDA appreciates any changes in provider information that you may find and make us aware of so we can investigate.
Some providers may not specifically treat Lyme and TBD but see patients who have symptoms associated with Lyme and TBD to address those specific symptoms. Contact the provider to confirm.
It is your responsibility to contact the provider’s office to confirm the current address, directions, nature of services provided, and all other provider information before you make an appointment.
DISCLAIMER: The Lyme Disease Association, Inc. provides referrals to health care providers who treat Lyme disease, and often other TBD, as a courtesy to those seeking Lyme Literate Physicians (LLMD). However, some of the providers included do not specifically treat Lyme and TBD but see patients who have symptoms associated with Lyme and TBD to address those specific symptoms. We do not evaluate the professional competence or qualifications of health care providers on our referral list or the costs of services provided. Accordingly, the LDA neither warrants nor endorses the health care providers contained on this list nor the quality of care you will receive from those providers. We do not make recommendations, only referrals. LDA does not receive any monies from physicians to be included on this list nor does LDA provide any monies to physicians. Because of the limited number of physicians treating chronic Lyme disease nationwide, some states, and in some instances, entire regions, may not have any treating physicians who follow flexible treating approaches such as those in the International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) Guidelines: Evidence Assessments and Guideline Recommendations in Lyme Disease: The Clinical Management of Known Tick Bites, Erythema Migrans Rashes and Persistent Disease. In the event that the Doctor Referral System contains no Lyme or TBD resource listings in a given area, the closest possible option(s) will populate based on the zip code entered and category/ies selected. The LDA appreciates any changes in provider information that you may find and make us aware of.
LDA does not accept or reply to any comments on:
We cannot guarantee that the information provided will be timely and accurate or that physicians on the list are accepting new patients, or that they accept insurance. The selection of a physician should be made by you after careful consideration. There are two approaches in the treatment of Lyme disease. Our list contains physicians who generally follow more flexible treatment approaches than those advocated by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). LDA is not responsible for incorrect information on the website. BEFORE DOCTOR VISIT: Please contact the physicians’ offices directly to confirm their current address, directions, and any other necessary information before scheduling an appointment. Do not rely only on the maps provided on this site. The maps on LDA’s Doctor Referral System are for informational purposes and provide an approximate locality of the listing based on the addresses we are provided with at the time of site updates. Practitioners often relocate and addresses can change. Notification of changes in listed information can be updated on our Dr. Referral Contact Form. Thank you, Lyme Disease Association, Inc. (LDA)
Subscriber information will not be shared outside of the Lyme Disease Association, Inc. nor used for donor solicitation.
The Lyme Disease Association, Inc. reserves the right to unsubscribe anyone from this service without cause.