A new spending bill that funds the Centers for Disease Control is calling for a greater focus on Lyme disease, a request by U.S. Congressman Frank Wolf (R-10th).
The Fiscal 2012 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill that was approved in the House on Dec. 15 was signed into law on Dec. 17. The bill encourages the CDC to expand its activities related to developing sensitive and more accurate diagnostic tools and tests for Lyme disease, according to a release. That includes the evaluation of new diagnostic methods and improving the usage of diagnostic testing to account for acute and chronic Lyme disease occurrences.
The bill also encourages the CDC to expand on research activities on tick-borne diseases to include an objective to determine the long-term course of illness for Lyme and to improve reporting of tick-borne illnesses to provide accurate data, the release said.
The language also calls for a national reporting system for Lyme that would include laboratory reporting. Public education is a big component of this bill and calls for the creation of a physician education program that includes a full spectrum of scientific research on the disease, according to a release.
Wolf pushed for the language in the bill and has been a long-time advocate for victims of Lyme. He has hosted forums in the 10th district to help educate area residents about the dangers of Lyme and how to protect themselves from tick bites, the release said.
Wolf also encouraged Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) to create a Lyme disease task force to examine how Virginians can prevent and treat Lyme. The task force held public hearings throughout Virginia and reported its findings in June.
“Northern Virginia and Loudoun County, in particular, are at the center of a Lyme epidemic,” Wolf said in a release. “I know how devastating this disease can be and will continue to push for a cure and raise awareness to help people from getting it in the first place.”
Wolf joined three of his House colleagues earlier this year to introduce legislation requiring the secretary of Heath and Human Services to create an advisory committee charged with advising federal agencies on priorities related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, according to the release.
The bill builds on recommendations made by the Institute of Medicine in a report that was issued in April, the release said, and has now been placed in front of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
See what they’ve done far for this disease… watch under our skin.
I have a hard time believing them… any of them.
You folks who want to vote for Tea Party candidates remember this - they will slash all government funding for diseases. States can pay for it all themselves and deal with it themselves. No more CDC, no more government funding for disease research, no more aid for people who can’t afford it. Think before you vote folks!
Thank you Congressman Wolfe—we appreciate your support, after going through a very difficult time with my wife’s illness. This disease needs to be addressed by the CDC, and get their support for long-term treatment options.
So Wolf is saying that the Government has value here? In R&D efforts? Hmmm…interesting. Where is the outrage from everyone who decries “too much government”?????
I applaud his efforts, but am curious about the general hypocrisy. Why does this qualify as an “exception to the rule”?
Wolf has always been a moderate Republican, so give the man his due here. I applaud the effort, because this disease is still not recognized for its seriousness by a lot of the medical commmunity, despite the fact that Loudoun is ground zero for the area on Lyme. Myself and my family have had it for years and it IS a problem disease. Thank You Congressman Wolf !
I thought Frank Wolf supporters believed in market-based solutions to everything. Why is the government needed? Won’t those bureaucrats just screw it up like everything else they do? I’m sure Big Pharma will step in if it was really needed. Right guys???
Huh! And I thought the private sector always steps in to fill a need. Perhaps I have been misled?
It’s been ignored by the government for too long and no the private sector has not stepped up to make the necessary progress in diagnosing, treating, training medical personnel and getting the word out to the public. So many people are finding out way after the fact that they have Lyme’s and often their regular doctor has no idea what to do next. Very few doctors are thinking of Lyme’s disease when kids come in with odd symptoms that don’t really relate to anything else and parents aren’t thinking of Lyme’s when their kids complain of things like neck pain, lingering headaches that don’t go away, joint pain, etc….
Wouldn’t the private sector do this better?
Thank you Congressman Wolf for upholding our rights to fight for Lyme disease. We have been pushed aside long enough. This disease is shameful and so discriminated against, it makes me sick. If we had cancer, there wouldn’t be an issue with it or over it, BUT Lyme disease what a demonic disease this is. Please check out my website of a book I wrote about my own personal journey with Lyme disease and coinfections: www.tickedoff.tateauthor.com, what I went through was inexcusable for the medical community to not recognize what I was dealing with. Thank you Sir and may God bless you as He continues to do for me!
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