New York, New York (PRWEB) April 18, 2013
In light of the recent alarming discovery of ticks infected with Lyme disease in seven Santa Monica-area parks, the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance (TBDA), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness, supporting initiatives and promoting advocacy to find a cure for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, warns the public about the national health crisis posed by tick-borne diseases and calls on government officials to allocate the critical resources needed for research into these debilitating diseases. This report from the Los Angeles County West Vector Control District marks the first time Lyme-positive ticks were confirmed in the National Park Service’s Paramount Ranch, an old moviemaking location in California.
“Tick-borne diseases have become a national health epidemic, and the recent findings of Lyme-infected ticks in several California parks should be a wakeup call for people across the United States,” said David Roth, TBDA Co-Chair and Managing Director at the Blackstone Real Estate Group. “Everyone is at risk of contracting tick-borne diseases when spending time outdoors, and it’s important that people recognize tick-borne diseases as a serious threat. TBDA is dedicated to advancing research, raising awareness, stimulating advocacy about the devastating impact of tick-borne diseases, and providing resources for prevention and protection. By working together with the tick-borne disease community nationwide, we are determined to eradicate these debilitating diseases.”
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has singled out Lyme disease as the most common and fastest growing vector-borne, infectious disease in the country. When left untreated, or undertreated, victims of these diseases suffer extremely incapacitating illnesses that also cause significant preventable health care costs and reduced economic productivity. Further, victims of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases suffer in large part because there is currently no diagnostic tool that is even 60% reliable. Those infected often spend months, and in many cases years, searching to simply determine the cause of their illness. Some never find out – they just continue to suffer with other diagnoses that in fact might or could be Lyme and other co-infections.
TBDA will host its annual benefit on May 2, 2013 at Pier 60, Chelsea Piers in New York City. For more information about TBDA, tick-borne diseases, including Lyme, as well as prevention and protection visit http://www.TBDAlliance.org.