WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) are calling on the Administration to take swift action to prevent and respond to Lyme Disease. A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday indicated that diagnoses of Lyme Disease are ten times higher than cases reported annually. Collins and Klobuchar wrote to Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius urging the agency to use all available resources to improve diagnostic tools and ramp up efforts to prevent the spread of the disease. Earlier this year, Collins and Klobuchar urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to alleviate a shortage of a drug used to treat infectious diseases like Lyme disease.
"According to our state epidemiologist, the number of Maine residents diagnosed with Lyme disease continues to increase each year," Senator Collins said. "This alarming new report from the CDC illustrates just how widespread this disease actually is and makes clear the immediate need for improved diagnostic tools and prevention efforts."
"This report underscores the need to take action to better prevent and respond to Lyme disease," Klobuchar said. "We need to do everything in our power to expand and boost efforts to ensure that the public, health care providers, educators and others are doing everything possible to prevent the spread of this disease."
Both Maine and Minnesota have high incidences of tick-borne illnesses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2011, 96 percent of Lyme disease cases were reported from 13 states, including Maine and Minnesota. Today's report by the CDC indicated that the number of Americans diagnosed with Lyme disease each year is approximately 300,000 - 10 times higher than the 30,000 cases reported annually.
The full text of the letter is below:
August 19, 2013
The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius
Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Ave, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Dear Secretary Sebelius:
Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the number of Americans diagnosed with Lyme disease each year is approximately 300,000 - 10 times higher than the 30,000 cases reported annually. Given this startling announcement, we urge you to promote the development of improved diagnostic tools and interventions and to expand, intensify and coordinate efforts to ensure that the public, health care providers, educators and others are doing everything possible to raise awareness about strategies to prevent the spread of this disease.
As you know, Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that could cause numerous symptoms including headache, fever, fatigue, arthritis, Bell's palsy, memory problems, and even death. Lyme disease cases are also heavily concentrated in the United States. A 2011 study showed that 96 percent of all Lyme disease cases were reported in just 13 states, including Minnesota and Maine.
Improving public health requires a more accurate picture of the number of Lyme disease diagnoses each year. We commend you and CDC Director Frieden for strengthening the understanding of the transmission and incidence of this disease. This new data will inform future efforts to prevent, diagnose, and treat Lyme disease.
The Department of Health and Human Services is best suited to coordinate the prevention and response efforts already being done at the state and local levels, at public health organizations, within the scientific community and across other federal agencies prevention. It is our hope that today's announcement will strengthen these efforts as we strive to raise public awareness and prevent Lyme disease.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Amy Klobuchar, United States Senator
Susan Collins, United States Senator
cc: The Honorable Thomas Frieden, MD, MPH, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention