Survey Shows Residents Know About Lyme,

Not Ready To Spend

One hundred informal survey responses suggest that most people claim to know a lot about tick disease, a majority of people worry about it, and 92 percent know someone who has had Lyme disease, or another tick-related illness.

Would those same people favor costs and methods to reduce disease, which may include a deer management plan? Sixty-two percent say no.

Again, nearly 42 percent are willing to support spending significant amounts of tax dollars toward tick disease reduction in Newtown, with about 58 percent who are not ready to commit tax money to reduce disease. Just under 50 percent of survey respondents would prefer to vote on tick and disease management decisions while 25 percent are willing to leave the matter to town committees.

The informal tick-borne disease survey created by The Newtown Bee and posted on the Internet March 10–17 prompted Tick Borne Disease Action Committee Chairmen Robert Grossman’s thoughts. He reviewed results this week saying, “There is a lot of opposition to hunting and people don’t want to spend money.” He agrees that the 100 people who had taken the poll appear to worry about Lyme, but he suspects they may be thinking, “It won’t happen to me.” He added, “It’s a mixed bag.”

Looking at the high percentage of people who know someone with Lyme, or who state they know a lot about the disease, he said, “Maybe they have not followed the extent of the illness. If they saw someone who was really sick they would want to do something.” The survey numbers do not support spending or methods at disease reduction that may include a deer management effort, however.

As his committee narrows its information into a final report, which will include recommendations for reducing the tick-borne diseases in Newtown, he said, “We’ll base our report on the experts’ information.” He will rely on science and fact, and will also consider public sentiments, including those reflected in the brief survey. The final report goes to the Board of Selectmen, which will make decisions regarding tick-borne disease management in Newtown.

 

Survey Results

The informal online survey conducted at NewtownBee.com between March 10 and 17 polled 100 respondents. The results are as follows:

How much do you know about tick-borne disease? A lot, 74; Some, 25; Little or nothing, 1.

How much do you worry about tick-borne disease? A lot, 40; Some, 28; Little or not at all, 32.

Do you know someone who has had Lyme or another tick-related disease? Yes, 92; No, 8.

Would you favor costs and methods to reduce disease among residents that may include managing the local deer herd? Yes, 38; No, 62.

Would you support significant amounts of tax dollars spent on the reduction of tick-borne disease in Newtown? Yes, 41; No, 57; Two people skipped this question.

Would you prefer to leave these decisions to boards and committees? Yes, 25; No, 25; I would prefer to vote on it, 49; One person skipped this question.