Written by Susan Bloom for the Asbury Park Press--

Urging greater research and investment into the prevention and treatment of Lyme disease, Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., kicked off Lyme Disease Awareness Month on May 1 by announcing his introduction of bill that would establish a federal Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee. He also introduced a bill to fund up to $20 million for research in that area.

    Smith, who founded and co-chaired the Lyme disease caucus in Congress, said the bill would “promote development of new and improved diagnostic tests, boost surveillance and reporting, push clinical outcomes research, and expand efforts to prevent this dreaded disease.”

    Transmitted through the blood-sucking tick, Lyme disease has been reported in every state in the country, but New Jersey ranks third nationwide (behind Pennsylvania and New York) in the number of cases.

    This is of particular concern to Smith — who represents 34 towns in Monmouth County, eight in Ocean County and two in Mercer County — because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that less than 10 percent of all cases are actually reported.

    “This means that 4,000 reported cases in New Jersey could actually be 40,000 cases,” said Smith, who noted that one of his sons suffered a tick bite resulting in the signature bulls-eye. He was immediately treated with antibiotics, resolving the problem. But Smith’s brother did contract a confirmed case of Lyme disease.Lyme disease can, if left untreated, lead to such debilitating long-term conditions as arthritis, neurological problems, encephalopathy, memory problems, weakness of the extremities and inflammation of the heart muscle.

    Pat Smith, president of the national nonprofit Lyme Disease Association (www.lymediseaseassociation.org), who joined Smith at his press conference in Wall, noted that “children 5 to 14 are at the highest risk of acquiring the disease, so it’s imperative that parents educate their children about tick avoidance and tick checks.”

    He called for aggressive public awareness — and personal awareness — about the disease.

    Original story published at:

http://www.app.com/article/20130507/NJLIFE04/305070020/Smith-urges-comprehensive-approach-Lyme-disease