For All You Virginians...Tick-Borne Diseases, Prevention, Education, and Research Act

Lyme Disease On The Rise

With all of the natural beauty in our area drawing people outdoors, and with warm summer days just around the corner, Virginians need to know how to protect themselves from exposure to bacteria-carrying black-legged ticks, the primary cause of Lyme disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of Lyme disease in Virginia have more than doubled in recent years. Local public health officials have also reported increased prevalence of ticks in our area.

I want to draw your attention to recent articles in The Washington Post and The Winchester Star about the danger of Lyme and what you can do to protect yourself from this dreaded disease. After holding an informational forum on Lyme disease last summer, I have become a co-chair of the House Lyme Disease Caucus, and an original cosponsor of the Tick-Borne Diseases, Prevention, Education, and Research Act (H.R. 1179).

As a grandfather of 13, I worry that folks in our area aren’t checking young children or even themselves for ticks after being outdoors and encourage you to educate yourself about the Lyme threat, which can cause fever and fatigue, as well are more severe manifestations such as meningitis and Bell’s palsy.

I hope this information has been helpful to you.

For more on these or other issues, please visit www.wolf.house.gov.