What the Media Don’t Tell You About Lyme Disease (But Should)
HuffPost, April 26, 2017:
by David Michael Conner
I’ve seen more Lyme disease headlines over the past couple of months than ever before. It’s a good thing and a terrible thing. It means that news organizations and magazines are finally paying attention to this often-devastating disease and making an effort to inform the public about it. It’s a bad thing because, as has been the lede of many of the stories, researchers have predicted that 2017 will be one of the worst on record for new Lyme infections because of a mild winter and a warming climate in general that is making more of the country a haven for ticks. READ MORE.
Unfortunately, the only reason more headlines have become visible is due to the increase in celebs announcing they suffer from Lyme. Regarding all other citizens suffering from Lyme…….the data has always been available for viewing, group awareness efforts in place, but ignored as an epidemic. I will reiterate what I’ve written in past, in that, until it becomes a personal battle of illness for politicians, attorneys, medical doctors, celebrities …..any dignitary for that matter, it (disturbingly) won’t gain traction. By way of example would be reform groups in areas of let’s say judicial reform etc…. reform mechanisms have been established for decades presenting unrefuted evidence of illegal activity and misconduct …. yet shunned. Only when it personally afflicts those enduring irreparable harm whether it be legal or health does it earn “headline” news.
David, please focus your research on the many ways and vectors where Lyme and all of its’ co-infections can be contracted. There are a good many reports as well as scientific studies showing that these pathogens are passed from many sources. Body fluids are one of many. This includes “pee”. If you want to warn people not to urinate in a pool, it seems that this would be a pretty good deterrent when discussed along with the dire consequences of contracting Lyme.
I believe that my first infection was caused by a vaccine, but, this being entirely too controversial to even discuss at this point. Know that there is quite substantial proof that Lyme has been found in the blood supply in the U.S., proven to be spread to humans through fleas and mosquito bites, passed from our beloved pets (studies have found Lyme as well as a number of Lyme co-infections in the tears, mucous, saliva and urine of dogs as well (and to a greater degree) in cats.
Most doctors with Lyme knowledge and experience will tell you that they always look at all the family members and people that a patient is close to, as well as intimate with, and make sure others are not also either having active symptoms or carriers of the pathogens.
It is an insult to us all, those with Lyme who are all too aware, as well as those who may have Lyme and don’t know it and the ones not infected at all (dare I say “yet”?).
I find all this talk about ticks and summertime being tick weather to be ridiculous!
David, thank you for your article. Please, please keep searching for the truth.
Jane Ann
Jane Ann, thanks for pointing out the diverse ways Lyme and co-infections can be spread. I recently asked a question about infections in blood banks, and a top LLMD said Lyme doesn’t last long in the blood supply, but babesia does.
Good article. Yes, many more questions need to be asked. With all the controversies being written about, why not those who suffer from LD and why? In her book Plague, Dr. Judy Mikovits includes a quote from James Lovelock, “An inefficient virus kills its host. A clever virus stays with it.” It stuck with me and I think this is true of Bd as well. If it persists, why? If not, how can it create so much havoc? Having followed LD for twenty years now and being a caregiver to a wife who suffers a daily living death, I think there are only two things that will perhaps bring the kind of attention and resolution we all hope for. When you look at the infectious diseases that have emerged out of Africa and South America, two things stand out for me. Significant deaths and sexual transmission. If these two things could be put forward as real concerns, and they are, things may move forward. Even then I have my doubts from all I have seen over time. Trying to remain hopeful but realistic.
Matthew….. you hit the nail perfectly in all cardinal directions. As I’ve conveyed previously, the crux of the issue is the denial from the medical community and scientists. They alone have the data & power to bring forth awareness by way of unrefuted evidence on the points you categorized. As you stated…”put forward as real concerns,…..” this would only be a positive for everyone globally to work as a collaborative effort. Instead, we currently endure resistance from the very specialists who could be an integral part of the solution instead of furthering the problem. Thank you for your cogent insight and credible comment. Could not agree more.