Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Public Hearing

This is a Connecticut Legislative Public Hearing designed to gather information regarding the general public's ideas, concerns, and beliefs about Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases in the State of Connecticut so that we can best design legislation to meet the needs of our citizens.

Friday March 8th 2013 

Wesleyan University Middletown CT

Fayerweather Building – Beckham Hall

Parking Across Street – #70 Wyllys Ave Lot E

Please arrive 9:30 am

Lyme disease reported in 50 US states and throughout the world

CT has the highest rate of incidence of Lyme Infections (CDC, May 2011)

Children age 5-14 are the fastest growing demographic (25%)

Untreated Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease can have Life-Long Debilitating Effects

Current Testing Standards are dated and NOT diagnostic (miss 44/100 patients) 

Black-legged ticks are infected from hosting on white-footed mice

Ticks can be as small as a poppy seed – many are never aware they have been bitten

Commonly “known” symptoms ARE NOT “common”

Lyme and Tick-Borne Infection Symptoms are often confused with Other Diseases

State Funding for Community Lyme Education is minimal in CT

If treated promptly – lyme and tick-borne diseases CAN be treated, however:

• It MUST be recognized QUICKLY by residents
• It MUST be recognized QUICKLY by physicians
• It MUST be “Clinically” Diagnosed and Treated based on Patient Symptoms

“Lyme” was “coined” in CT in 1975... Why do many residents STILL struggle to:

Find Quality Educational Material?

Find a Quality Lyme Literate Doctors in CT? 

Avoid the Risks of Infection?

We can no longer deny the disease and the people who are AT RISK...

YOU and Your Loved Ones!

If you wish to submit public testimony for this hearing: (tell your story, share your concerns) you can do so online at the CT General Assembly Website - Bill No S0368 (click here)

Public Testimony On-line submission shall be available on Friday, March 1 (if it does not work - check back on Monday March 4)

Please feel free to contact Marie Benedetto for more information....mbenelyme@gmail.com