Joining The Fight Against Lyme Disease

To the Editor:

On behalf of the Newtown Lyme Disease Task Force, I would like to thank the Rotary Club for co-sponsoring our seminar on Lyme disease with Dr Bernard Raxlen on Monday, April 28, at the Fireside Inn. The Rotarians have been instrumental in Newtown’s Lyme disease education. Their mission statement, “Service above Self,” clearly shines through. As always, special thanks to the Fireside Inn for hosting our fifth seminar.

We also would like to thank Mark Ingram of CommuniTyVision 21 (Local Channel 21) for his efforts to broaden public awareness of tick-borne diseases. The program will be broadcast on CommuniTyVision 21 on the following dates: May 11, 1 pm and 9 pm; May 18 and 25, 4pm.

Our sincere gratitude goes out to Dr Raxlen for so generously donating his time and for his commitment to tick-borne diseases. Dr Raxlen, who has over 20 years experience, has treated over 2,000 patients successfully for persistent (late) Lyme disease. There is very little scientific evidence to support the guidelines that physicians use to treat patients, especially beyond the acute phase of the illness. He spoke of the concerns regarding the bacteria and that the guidelines ignore the critical medical problem of advanced borreliosis (late Lyme).

Many experts in the academic community have declared that Lyme disease can consistently be cured with short courses of single antibiotics not taking into consideration the latent and more complex stage of the infection. Co-infections further complicate treatment. However, as the number of cases rise, doctors on the front lines are discovering that Lyme disease is more serious than previously suspected, often requiring longer treatment therapies.

In 20 short years, this little-known bacterial infection has claimed at least a million victims and the number of new patients continues to spiral upward with no relief in sight. Unfortunately, we know relatively little about Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. The bacterial agent (Borrelia burgdorferi), that causes Lyme disease is poorly understood and it continues to challenge scientists and physicians alike.

The fact that this Lyme disease seminar attracted several hundred attendees attests to the serious concerns of our community regarding this growing epidemic. Please call your state and federal representatives and tell them that you are concerned about Lyme disease in Newtown.

Congresswoman Nancy Johnson, 860-223-8412.

Senator Christopher Dodd, 800-334-5341.

Senator Joseph Lieberman, 800-335-5605.

State Senator John McKinney, 800-842-1421.

State Representatives Julia Wasserman and Debralee Hovey, 800-842-1423,

By raising the public’s awareness of this threat and taking proper precautions we can begin to make a difference in combating Lyme disease.

Sincerely,

Kim Harrison

35 Taunton Hill Road, Newtown                                   May 6, 2003