News

The CDC’s official count of approximately 30,000 Lyme disease cases per year in the United States has been a constant source of exasperation to the Lyme community. The agency acknowledged some years back that its “estimate” of cases is 10 times that—300,000+ annually. But an... Read More »

Wall Street Journal, June 22, 2018 by Jo Craven McGinty This time of year, the U.S. is crawling with ticks. It’s a concern because the rapacious bloodsuckers spread disease when they bite. The most common tick-borne ailment is Lyme disease, but the official case count—which helps... Read More »

The federal Tick-Borne Disease Working Group held an online meeting on June 21. The public could view it via webcast. Our Lonnie Marcum live-tweeted the proceedings. Read More »

I was selected to give verbal comments at today’s federal Tick-Borne Disease Working Group meeting. Here’s what I told them: There is considerable uncertainty in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease — particularly persistent Lyme disease. Most patients... Read More »

Press release from New York Senate, June 19, 2018: The New York State Senate today approved a resolution to provide a record $1 million to help fight the scourge of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases (TBDs) throughout the state. The new funding will help support a wide variety of... Read More »

Questions have been raised in the Lyme community about the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group and its compliance with assorted regulations, especially related to what is called FACA. Here is some information to help you put the discussion in context. FACA stands for Federal... Read More »

Press release from New York Governor’s Office, June 19, 2018: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a new, groundbreaking public-private research collaboration to advance the diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne diseases. The New York State Department of Health... Read More »

Medicare now requires “shared decision making” before it will pay for certain medical procedures. Shared decision making involves a balanced discussion between patient and physician of the risks and benefits of treatment alternatives. Together, they choose a course of action.... Read More »

By Aaron J. Jackson It’s been almost a year since I tried to kill myself. As a doctoral student living in the leafy suburb of Brookline, Massachusetts, in 2015, I chanced upon a tick—a tiny vampire the size of a poppy seed—that changed my life forever and nearly brought it to an... Read More »