Lyme disease has reached epidemic numbers across many states in the U.S. including Maryland which is ranked sixth in the nation in reported cases. From 2006 to 2007 Lyme disease cases more than doubled in the state.

This is according to the Center for Disease Control, whose strict reporting guidelines for physicians stand in the way of an accurate census to the true number of Lyme disease cases.

The CDC’s medical guidelines for Lyme disease conflict with other established medical guidelines for testing, clinical diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Medical insurance companies also follow these opposing guidelines in determining medical coverage for the Lyme disease patients.

Some medical insurance companies will only cover portions of treatment or limit the amount of treatment they deem necessary despite a patients medical professional’s directives. There are even medical insurance companies who deny coverage for any type of Lyme disease treatment.

Lyme disease symptoms are often ignored or mimic many other diseases. Misdiagnosis and delayed treatment has lead to unnecessary, long term, problematic symptoms and expensive, long term treatments for many.

The infectious organisms, which are responsible for Lyme disease, are called spirochetes. They are capable of invading healthy cells, organs and complete bodily systems. These spirochetes can transform into two alternative structures inside the body making treatment arduous.

“Lyme Awareness Night”, sponsored by the Lyme Awareness Network, is an event prepared to raise awareness in the community about the dangers associated with contracting Lyme disease. This event will be held on Wednesday, March 24 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 50 Clyde Jones Rd, Sunderland, MD.

Through multi-media presentations, local and personal testimonies, first hand accounts from medical professionals working with Lyme patients, and a question and answer session, vast topics concerning Lyme disease will be addressed.

Lyme Awareness Network is a newly formed activist group comprising of various individuals in the community who are victims of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. Lyme Awareness Network’s objectives are to increase awareness and educate citizens on tick bite prevention and to understand and recognize the varied symptoms of Lyme disease.

For more information, contact the Lyme Awareness Network c/o Connie Sutton at (443) 624-9903 via email at gobbler-getter@comcast.net.

Alternate email contacts are available: Melody Pfiefer may be emailed at bionda759@aol.com or Barbara Brady at daisygirlsfarm@yahoo.com.