Health
Senate Committee adopts provision of Dodd’s Lyme disease legislation
By [unknown placeholder $article.art_field1$]
Aug 4, 2009 - 1:52 PM

Will Develop Ways to Identify and Treat Long-Term Effects of Lyme Disease

A key Senate panel approved legislation proposed by Senator Chris Dodd to help identify and treat Lyme disease. The Dodd measure was included in the annual funding bill for the Department of Health and Human Services.

This provision encourages the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to develop sensitive and more accurate diagnostic tools and tests for Lyme disease; to improve surveillance and reporting of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases; and to expand prevention of Lyme disease through increased community-based public education and the creation of a physician education program.

“Approximately 20,000 Americans contract Lyme disease each year, and the numbers are rising,” said Dodd. “And because Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose, many experts believe the true number of cases each year could be as much as ten or twelve times the reported number. This provision will ensure that we find new ways to track cases of Lyme disease so that we are better equipped to diagnose and treat this often debilitating disease.”

The provision is supported by Connecticut-based Time for Lyme, Inc. and the Lyme Disease Association.

“We are extremely grateful to Senator Dodd for this accomplishment. Over the past 12 years, Senator Dodd has consistently taken action to support the Lyme community with legislation designed to increase research, and improve prevention and education programs,” said Debbie Siciliano, Time for Lyme Co-President.

"Senator Dodd's persistence working across the aisle and with both houses has brought Lyme to the forefront, and this appropriations language will help residents not only in Connecticut which has the highest incidence rate of Lyme, but also the hundreds of thousands of people annually acquiring Lyme in the U.S" said Pat Smith, President Lyme Disease Association.

Last month, Dodd introduced the Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education and Research Act of 2009. The bill would require that the Secretary of Health and Human Services establish a Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee within the Office of the Secretary to address tick-borne diseases with other Federal agencies and private organizations.

Dodd is a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and Chairman of its Subcommittee on Children and Families. The provision, part of Dodd’s Lyme disease bill, was included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.

© Copyright by ConnecticutPlus.com