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LDA NEWS & UPDATES 
September 2021
The Lyme Disease Association announces that the House voted this week to pass a number of amendments to the NDAA, National Defense Authorization Act, including a Congressman Chris Smith amendment —The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a review of whether the Department of Defense experimented with ticks, other insects, airborne releases of tick-borne bacteria, viruses, pathogens, or any other
tick-borne agents regarding use as a biological weapon between the years of 1950 and 1977. 

There is information in various publications that such activities did occur, especially in the book “Bitten” by Kris Newby– a science writer at Stanford University—a book, which explores the evidence through actual government documents and interviews with some researchers who were involved that document such experiments.
The Lyme Disease Association Inc. has worked with Congressman Smith (NJ-04) on this legislative issue since 2019, with his introduction of a similar amendment which passed the House and in 2020 when this current version of the amendment was first passed by the House.
WATCH Quality research studies, understand new treatment options, and grab improved patient quality of life!

The conference features faculty consisting of clinicians and researchers from across the US and Canada. It is designed for physicians and researchers, and the public is invited to register. Read more.

In a new study published by the CDC, Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Reported Lyme Disease, United States, 2020, authors describe how the impacts of COVID-19 might have influenced Lyme disease case reporting in 2020. Investigators explored four data sources to assess
how the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced reporting of Lyme disease cases in 2020. Surveys that were conducted indicate that residents in the United States spent more time in the outdoors in 2020 than in 2019, but that reports of tick bite–related ER visits and Lyme disease laboratory tests were fewer. Authors indicate that although outdoor exposures were higher, case reporting for Lyme disease in 2020 may have been “artificially reduced” due to changes in people’s medical care seeking behavior in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, many health departments were limited in resources to investigate Lyme disease case reports in 2020 due to the increased workload created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.

NC Department of Health and Human Services has offered information advising how patients can locate services for monoclonal antibodies treatment for COVID-19 infections.

The NCDHHS website states, “The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) has issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to allow the use of monoclonal antibody therapies for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in certain high-risk patients. All high-risk adults and high-risk youth ages 12-17 who weigh at least 88 pounds
may be eligible for treatment." Read more.

The Lyme Disease Association, Inc. (LDA) is pleased to announce the opening of its new, free LDA Doctor Referral System©. The System is provided as a service; LDA does not provide recommendations. Many
of these doctors are known as LLMDs (Lyme Literate Medical Doctors), those doctors “in the trenches” who are very knowledgeable about Lyme disease and treating patients, and who are more open to treating patients with chronic Lyme & other TBD, sometimes using long-term treatments. Other specialists who may not treat Lyme disease itself but some specific symptoms and understand about Lyme disease are also included, as are some laboratories and other healthcare providers, including some international providers. Read more.
Furthered evaluation of Month 18 of the Phase 2 Trials showed a decrease in antibody titers, indicating the need for a booster. The company is likely move to Phase 3 Trials in 2022. Read more on Valneva.com.
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