The Loudoun Lyme Disease Commission invites members of the medical community and the general public to attend a presentation on the findings of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Tick-Borne Disease Working Group. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, May 30, 2019, at the Belmont Country Club, 19661 Belmont Manor Lane in Ashburn.
The featured speakers are Dr. John Aucott and Kirsten Honey, PhD, the immediate past chair and vice-chair, respectively, of the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group, which was created to serve as a federal advisory committee following congressional passage of the 21st Century Cures Act in 2016. The committee’s task was to review current research efforts and help identify priorities related to tick-borne disease and to provide a report to Congress and the HHS Secretary every two years. The group’s 2018 Report to Congress describes a potential path forward for addressing the spread of tick-borne diseases.
At the May 30 event, Aucott and Honey will present an update on their findings and recommendations, including
- Updates in epidemiology of tick-borne diseases in North America
- Gaps in understanding of tick-borne diseases
- Challenges for future policy and research
The event is free, but space is limited. Anyone interested in attending is asked to register in advance at www.facebook.com/LoudounTargetsLyme/events.
May has been proclaimed Lyme Disease Awareness Month in Loudoun by the Board of Supervisors in an effort to raise awareness about the disease and steps people can take to prevent it, including:
- Checking for ticks and proper tick removal;
- Wearing light-colored clothing so that ticks are easier to see and remove;
- Tucking pant legs into socks or boots and tucking shirts into pants;
- Wearing long-sleeved shirts buttoned to the wrist;
- Taking a bath or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors; and
- Seeking medical evaluation if they notice a bull’s eye or other unusual rash, or if they display flu-like symptoms.
More information about Lyme disease in Loudoun County, including tips on how to prevent the spread of the disease, may be found at loudoun.gov/lyme.
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