WASHINGTON – Congressman Bill Keating says the impetus for his recent tick-borne disease legislation was startling new data that suggests many Americans aren’t aware of the dangers presented by ticks.
The Tick-Borne Disease Prevention Act would direct the centers for disease control and prevention to publish materials specific to lyme disease, in an attempt to increase awareness for both health care providers and the public.
According to the CDC, there are over 30,000 reported cases of Lyme reported annually nationwide. But with unreported cases, officials believe the annual incidents of Lyme may actually be closer to 300,000 cases.
“It’s a growing problem. It’s a more serious problem, and now we’re finding out that the underreporting might be tenfold,” Keating said.
Keating says the issue is of great importance to his district, with Nantucket, Dukes, Plymouth, Bristol, and Barnstable counties all ranking in the top five of the highest rates of Lyme in Massachusetts.
“One of the things that surfaced recently is 20 percent of people even these very intensive areas where Lyme disease is prevalent aren’t even aware of it,” Keating said.
The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this month.
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