Lyme now spreading 4 times faster than AIDS

Question

This was all over the LIADS website last year and publicised on the NY jumbotron etc. 

Does any one know where the original source for this statistic can be found on the web? It seems to have vanished from the ILADS website. and I cannot find it on the CDC website, which is where I THOUGHT it came from....

I have been asked to write a Lyme awareness article for the website of a smallish TV station in the US, which is why I need it. I know my article is only a drop in the ocean, but any chance we get to spread awareness of Lyme disease is important. 

Any help in tracking this down is MUCH APPRECIATED.

cave76 · Accepted Answer

Thanks to the Wayback Machine I found this reference in the ILADS Guidelines Summary:

http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/treatment_guidelines_summary.html

"Lyme is the number one tick-borne illness in the US. The CDC reports there are 24,000 new cases of Lyme disease in the US but the CDC says that figure could be under reported by tenfold. ILADS believes newly diagnosed cases of Lyme may occur at a rate five times higher than the number of new AIDS cases. Chronic Lyme is reported in up to half of patients treated for Lyme."

However, the words "believe" and "may" makes me a little nervous. (I don't doubt the statement, just can't say it's proof.)

I've heard the comment about AIDS/Lyme statistics for a LONG time and if my memory serves me----- I think it came about because someone looked at the incidence of new AIDS cases and compared them to the new cases of Lyme--- in some forgotten (to me) year.

If we can find that-----it might be what you want. However, the number of cases of Lyme is a movable target and not set in stone depending on who/what is counting. Sigh.

But that quote may be all your looking for and since it's in the ILADS Guidelines----- a pretty good source.
And let me also say thanks for doing this. Each drop in the ocean........

Ricobord · Answer

Hmm. Haven't heard of the Wayback Machine. I'll have to check that out.

Youvegot... congrats on the article.  That's terrific.  You can also email ILADS to ask for the source of that information.  I emailed them over a year ago saying I wish they had a document with point/counterpoint arguments on the biggest issue of Lyme that I could give to some of my doctors.  The next day I was emailed exactly such a document. (They just didn't have it readily available on their website.)

cave76 · Answer

No--- I'm not a 'star'. :) Just a person who knows how to access a lot of information on the Internet----- comes of long experience. Which I wish I'd never had to develop because of Lyme. 

I would rather be traveling, dancing, painting, riding horses, gardening, taking hikes, camping----- need I go on?

youvegottobekidding · Answer

Thank you Cave, you're a STAR!!!

JackieCalifornia · Answer

Nicely done.

cave76 · Answer

I forgot to include the text found at the Wayback Machine:

"14. Lyme Disease Treatment Guidelines
- International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society Treatment Guidelines for Lyme Disease, Babesia, Erlichia, Bartonella and other lyme associate...
... of Lyme may occur at a rate five times higher than the number of new AIDS cases. Chronic Lyme is reported in up to half of patients treated for ...
Terms matched: 1  -  Score: 11  -  16 Sep 2009  -  URL: http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/treatment_guidelines_summary.html

mojogal · Answer

Congrats on doing that article. I remember reading that recently but I am not sure if it was on the ILADS recent news letter or not. I checked my Lyme folder and its not in there. Sorry, Lyme brain.

Lyme now spreading 4 times faster than AIDS

41 and 58 IGG bands reactive

Natural treatment

Looking for a Lyme doctor in western Pa.

Does this look like a rash from Lyme?

41 and 58 IGG bands reactive

Natural treatment

Looking for a Lyme doctor in western Pa.

Does this look like a rash from Lyme?

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