Issue Position: Lyme Disease

Issue Position

Lyme disease, which is extremely prevalent in our region and poses a serious threat to our health and quality of life. In fact, Southeastern Pennsylvania and Chester County, in particular, is ground zero for Lyme disease in the nation.

The most recent statewide data shows the reported cases of Lyme disease on the rise in most counties in the Commonwealth and the presence of the Lyme disease-carrying black-legged, or deer, tick in all 67 counties. For the past five years, Pennsylvania has led the nation in reported Lyme disease cases.

In response to the growing epidemic of Lyme disease, Senator Dinniman and the Pennsylvania legislature passed Act 83 of 2014, establishing the Pennsylvania Health Department's Task Force on Lyme and Related Tick-Borne Disease. Its findings mark the first-ever comprehensive report on Lyme disease in Pennsylvania.

Senator Dinniman, who serves on the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, has partnered with local health officials, doctors, and Lyme disease advocates to help ensure that the report is used to steer legislative action and positive change in preventing and effectively treating Lyme disease.

Dinniman also said that during his time as first a Chester County Commissioner and now a state Senator, he has connected with numerous individuals and families who have suffered the devastating effects of chronic Lyme only to find effective treatment through alternative therapies and/or long-term antibiotics.

"It appears that we need to balance and thoroughly review the variety of current and potential treatment and diagnostic options for Lyme that are available," Dinniman said. "We must take the stories of real Lyme patients into account as anecdotal evidence, especially considering the sheer number of cases out there."

Source