NEWS: Congressman Gibson re-introduces federal Lyme bill
The NY representative calls the legislation “constituent-driven” and says Lyme disease is “a public health scourge.”
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Congressman Gibson spoke about the bill at the Pattern For Progress “Across The Aisle” forum on February 6th. The following is from Hudson Valley News Network:
Click here for more information about the bill.
In 2011, the Committee on Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Diseases of the Institute of Medicine issued a report, entitled “CRITICAL NEEDS AND GAPS IN UNDERSTANDING PREVENTION, AMELIORATION, AND RESOLUTION OF LYME AND OTHER TICK-BORNE DISEASES”
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=13134&page=R1
In the “CONCLUDING THOUGHTS ON DIAGNOSIS AND DIAGNOSTICS”, on page153, it stated:
“Samples of whole blood and cerebrospinal fluid, tissue biopsies, and other specimens would allow scientists to validate the use of PCR for amplifying nucleic acids and to identify and validate novel methods of detecting tick-borne pathogens. The recently sequenced genomes of different strains of B. burgdorferi also promise to allow scientists to develop new diagnostics and ultimately, preventive measures..”
The government should administer a national proficiency testing program for the diagnosis of various borrelial species in simulated blood samples to encourage scientists to develop new diagnostics as recommended by the Institute of Medicine.
I’ve noticed that the link at the end of this post, “Click here for more information about the bill” has changed. It is now: http://hudsonvalleynewsnetwork.com/2015/02/15/gibson-combats-lyme-disease-federal-level/