GMU Helps Lyme Disease Victims Unite for Change
March 28, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Monte Skall
703-821-8833; monte@skall.net
GMU Helps Lyme Disease Victims Unite for Change
REP. FRANK WOLF KICKS OFF DISCUSSION
Washington, D.C., March 28, 2009. More than 160 representatives from Lyme disease organizations in 20 states assembled today at an all-day Legislative Forum facilitated by George Mason University in Arlington, VA, and openly debated topics vital to the future of our nation’s health. The National Capital Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Association and Turn the Corner Foundation sponsored the event.
Congressman Frank Wolf of the 10th District in Virginia opened with an inspiring keynote address and fielded questions from participants regarding progress urgently needed in Lyme education, diagnosis, treatment, and research.
The forum provided education on legislative processes and then opened the floor to all attendees to combine knowledge and resources in order to identify common needs and objectives, and formulate action. The agenda included a brief presentation of the recently introduced federal Lyme bill, H. R. 1179, but primarily the forum provided a venue for discussion on a broad range of topics to identify what is needed on multiple governmental fronts to address the growing epidemic of Lyme disease.
Professors Wallace Warfield and Sandra Cheldelin of the George Mason University Institute for Conflict Resolution and Analysis (ICAR) facilitated the lively and productive discussion.
Lyme disease is one of the most misunderstood and controversial diseases in U.S. history and is growing at an alarming rate of many thousands each year. It is frequently misdiagnosed and ineffectively treated by physicians who lack adequate education about the poor state of diagnostic tests and the high rates of relapse after minimal treatment. Victims are uniting to seek long overdue change to improve their lives, including research to cure this debilitating disease and accurate diagnostic tools.
For details and outcomes of the Lyme Legislative Forum, and for information on Lyme and other Tick-borne Diseases, visit http://www.natcaplyme.local.
