Lyme Disease Research Gets Financial Assistance

Research into Lyme disease has always suffered financially due to lack of government funding. With such a serious threat to health, it’s concerning just how little scientists get in terms of financial assistance when it comes to their work in studying and researching Lyme disease. However, that could be about to change.

Long-underfunded Lyme disease research gets an injection of money—and ideas

Months after a U.S. Congress–mandated working group sounded the alarm about tickborne illnesses and urged more federal action and money, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is readying a strategic plan for these diseases. Last week it also, serendipitously, issued a rare solicitation for prevention proposals in tickborne diseases. The new pot of money, $6 million in 2020, represents a significant boost; NIH spent $23 million last year on Lyme disease, by far the most common tickborne illness, within $56 million devoted to tickborne diseases overall.

With funding that can be used for new technology, this could lead to breakthroughs when it comes to not only research development but also treatment too.

Lyme disease is a real problem due to the ever-increasing tick population. Something needs to be done. And Fast!

Ticks Spreading Farther Across U.S., Raising Risk of Lyme Disease Infections

There are several different types of ticks scattered across the country. Each species is known to transmit a different disease, such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, spotted fever rickettsiosis, and babesiosis.Many ticks can carry germs that are harmful to our health, but only a handful actually pose a serious threat. Most tick bites are harmless and won’t cause any physical symptoms.

The number of reported Lyme disease cases is continuing to rise. What are you doing to protect yourself from Lyme? What steps can you take to make sure your family is safe? Let’s all do our own research and continue to spread the knowledge on World Lyme Day and beyond. If you have any questions or concerns about how you can protect your home from ticks, then contact us to find out more about how we can help.