Project zeroes in on prevention, education and data collection.

From the Vineyard Gazette, July 13, 2012:

Lyme Disease Initiative Seen as State Model

Lyme disease, the tick-borne illness that has been documented at epidemic levels on the Vineyard, is now the focus of a growing public health initiative that involves Island doctors, boards of health and university researchers.The initiative, which aims to zero in on prevention, education, and improved data collection, is seen by at least one leading expert as a possible model for the rest of the state.

“I have been working with communities for 25 years trying to get them to do something, and this is one glimmer of optimism,” said Sam Telford, a professor of infectious diseases at Tufts University.

Mr. Telford is part of the steering committee of the five-year study being led by the Island boards of health, with Edgartown health agent Matt Poole and Tisbury board of health member Michael Loberg as chairmen. The study is funded by a $250,000 state-mandated grant through the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.

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