Lyme Disease Meeting

Planned In Ridgefield

RIDGEFIELD –– Members of the Newtown Lyme Disease Task Force will be among the speakers when the town of Ridgefield holds its first Lyme Disease Town Meeting on July 24 from 7 to 9:30 pm at Scotts Ridge Middle School.

The event is being organized by Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi in response to the alarming statistic that 454 cases of Lyme disease were reported to the Ridgefield Health Department in 2002.

Speakers are scheduled to include Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, one of the state’s primary advocates for Lyme disease patients; Pat Smith, president of the Lyme Disease Association; Kirby Stafford, chief scientist with the Department of Forestry and Horticulture, and leaders of the Wilton Lyme Disease Support Groups and the Newtown Lyme Disease Task Force.

Mr Marconi sees the evening as an opportunity for concerned citizens to hear current information about Lyme disease, voice questions and concerns and hopefully join one of the many committees he will be including in the Lyme Disease Task Force.

Primary areas of review will include deer overpopulation, protection of schoolyards and playing fields, public service information, educational training through the schools, and the development of an ongoing seminar series. He is asking civic, business and religious leaders, members of the medical community, and educators to focus time and attention on the Lyme disease problem as it is proving to be a very real threat to the citizens of Ridgefield.

“We’ve been asked by the state to prepare for numerous health and safety issues over the past few years,” stated Mr Marconi, “but the one disease people are calling my office telling me they are concerned about is Lyme disease.” Lyme disease cases reached record levels last year. The number of people infected with Lyme in the state (actually reported) jumped to 4,631 in 2002 –– a nearly 30 percent increase over the 3,597 reported in 2001. Statewide, about 106 out of 100,000 people were infected.

“What 2002 translates to is 136 per 100,000 population –– a new record high,” according to Kirby Stafford. “The majority of the cases, 1,313, were from Fairfield County, 148.8 per 100,000 individuals.” Connecticut has the highest rate of Lyme disease in the United States. Numbers for the coming year will be difficult to assess as the state of Connecticut removed laboratory reporting of Lyme disease from its list of reportable findings as of January 1, 2003. With labs no longer required to report Lyme disease, health officials anticipate numbers will decline significantly –– reducing concern and funding for Lyme disease in Connecticut.

Scotts Ridge Middle School is at 750 North Salem Road (Route 116) immediately adjacent to Ridgefield High School. For additional information, contact Karen Gaudian at 203-438-0578 or at Mgaudian@msm.com or Jennifer Reid at 203-431-0462 or Crtn1@aol.com .