[McLean, VA – Thursday, March 3, 2011.] Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s appointed Lyme Disease Task Force held its first public testimony hearings March 1 in Virginia Beach and Richmond. Scores of residents testified about the detrimental impacts of Lyme disease and the problems of finding prompt diagnosis and treatment. Three more public testimony hearings are scheduled in March. The Task Force needs to hear from as many residents as possible from throughout Virginia. (See below for more information.)

Anyone may address Chairman Michael Farris and other Task Force members at the hearings on March 15 in Harrisonburg and Roanoke, and on March 22 in Springfield. The public testimony hearings are being held because of the growing concerns of Virginia residents about the spread and nature of Lyme disease. “Whole families are ill and are being permanently harmed,” Michael Farris says. Written comment can be directed to Mr. Farris at Lyme@PHC.edu.

Another important hearing in March is the third in a series of expert witness hearings. It will be held on March 18, from 1-4 PM in the Perimeter Center outside of Richmond. It will cover the topic of Lyme Disease and Children. Physicians, a psychologist, a school nurse, and three patients will testify about the impact of Lyme disease on children. The two previous hearings covered topics in diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The expert witness hearings are open to the public, but there is no opportunity for observers to comment. A fourth and final expert witness hearing is anticipated later in the spring on Lyme disease education.

More than nine hundred new cases of Lyme in Virginia were reported in 2009, and the CDC indicates ten times as many residents, particularly children, may be afflicted with this insidious disease.

All hearings are free and open to the public.

***Virginia residents are invited to speak (about 5 minutes per speaker, dependent on the number of participants) at the following hearings:

° March 15 from 1-4 PM – Festivals Highlands Room, Festival Conference and Student Center, James Madison University, 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807. General parking is available across the street in the D-3 lot. Lot security will allow parking there for attendees without a campus sticker. Campus map: http://web.jmu.edu/parking/parkingmap2010.pdf

• March 15 from 7-10 PM – Stonewall Jackson Middle School, 1004 Montrose Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24013
• March 22 from 7-10 PM – Immanuel Bible Church (main auditorium), 6911 Braddock Road, Springfield, VA 22151

***The following hearing is an expert witness hearing. The hearing is free and open to the public, but there will be no opportunity for public comment:

• March 18 from 1-4 PM – Hearing on Lyme Disease and Children.

The Perimeter Center in the Commonwealth Conference Center on the 2nd floor, Board Room 3.

9960 Mayland Drive
Henrico, VA 23233.
Ample free parking is available.

Expert Witnesses:

Jennifer Jones, R.N., B.S.N., N.C.S.N.
School Nurse
Trinity Christian School
Fairfax, VA

Daniel E. Keim, M.D.
Physician
Pediatric Infectious Disease Group
Leesburg and Fairfax, VA

Carolyn M. Walsh, M.D.
Physician
Lansdowne, VA

Leo J. Shea III, Ph.D.
Neuropsychologist
Neuropsychological Evaluation and Treatment Services, P.C.
New York, NY

Three lay witnesses will also testify.