Rep. Richard Hanna (R-Barneveld) wants to raise awareness about Lyme disease. And he’s hoping some federal legislation can provide relief for victims of the tick borne ailment.
“I would doubt if anyone who hears this doesn’t know somebody affected by it,” said Hanna.
“It” is Lyme disease, a tick borne illness that is affecting more and more people across the country and in upstate New York. Hanna’s hoping that a bill called the 21 Century Cures Act, can make a dent into discovering the mysteries of Lyme disease.
"The bill will cost $2 billion and this research which will look at a whole bunch of rare diseases and will help support research into those diseases. And it’s paid for through sales of oil through the national oil reserves,” said Hanna.
The congressman met with several people in Chittenango affected with the disease.
“There’s a lack of literacy about it. There’s a lack of adequate treatment. We heard someone say there is a lack of insurance coverage. It’s just generally a much bigger deal through our area and the northeast in general, and its’ spreading throughout the country,” said hanna.
Harvey Kliman of Hamilton, who operates a Lyme disease support group, says more research is needed for a disease that affects over 300,000 people a year, and is increasing over time.
For now, he says prevention is key. That means anyone who spends a lot of time in wooded or grassy areas, needs to check their bodies for ticks whenever they come inside. And he says for anyone spending an extended time in the woods, treated shoes and clothing is the best way to keep the Lyme disease carrying ticks at bay.
“Rather than a spray on repellant, you can buy treatment kits so you can treat your own clothing, or for more money you can buy treated clothing that prevention will last the life of the clothing,” said Kliman.
Kliman says there already is some research that looks promising.
“They’re looking at a human vaccine that will cause you to itch badly if you get a tick bite. So today, when you get a tick bite, the tick is very good at preventing you from knowing you’ve been bitten. So a vaccine that would make you notice a tick bite, would be a big step,” said Kliman.
Right now $23 million out of a $5 billion federal research budget focuses on Lyme disease, with research ranging from finding a vaccine, to finding ways to kill ticks on mice that carry them.
The Senate still needs to vote on the Cures Act before it can be signed into law.
