Project Lyme

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! This year, we are feeling especially grateful to our community, where people from all different backgrounds whose lives have been changed by Lyme and tick-borne disease can come together for help and support. What are you most thankful for? Let us know in the comments. We can't wait to hear from you all! #projectlyme #lyme #lymediseaseawareness #fightinglyme #endlyme #tickbite #tickssuck #lymestrong #lymewarriors #invisibleillness #chronicillness #healing #thanksgiving #grateful

TURNING LYME INTO CINEMA: When Edward Crawford, who grew up in the Hudson Valley, was first diagnosed with Lyme disease, he dismissed it, believing he was young and healthy and would easily beat it. However, his symptoms worsened, and he faced financial struggles as he tried a wide variety of treatments to no avail. Despite the challenges, Crawford enjoyed some accomplishments while pursuing his acting career, including being the first host of the game show ‘Cash Cab.’ Now he has written and co-directed a new film called ‘60 Miles North’ based on his real-life experiences with Lyme disease, which he describes as “an existential comedy about being a scrappy NY survivor who believes in positive outcomes.” Learn more and check out the new movie: https://lnkd.in/ezR-_fks #60MilesNorth #projectlyme #lymedisease #lymediseaseawareness #lymewarrior #coinfections #tickbornediseases #medicine #health #science #movie #film #cinema

We would like to thank everyone who came to the screening of The Quiet Epidemic on Capitol Hill! The event, which Project Lyme helped sponsor, was a huge success and raised awareness for all those suffering from debilitating Lyme and tick-borne disease symptoms. Just a few highlights from the day: — Hundreds of advocates attended, including Chris Meloni and Olivia Flowers — Senator Richard Blumenthal hosted an expert roundtable — Project Lyme Board Chair Ali Moresco spoke about the importance of government support and funding — Congressman Jim McGovern represented the Massachusetts coalition — Directors Lindsay Keys and Winslow Crane-Murdoch hosted a Q&A with many well-known faces from the film Let’s keep the momentum going and continue to advocate for real change! #projectlyme #lymedisease #lymediseaseawareness #lymewarrior #coinfections #tickbornediseases #medicine #health #science #movie #film #documentary #capitolhill #screening #event #MakeLymeLoud

After 27 years as a police officer and later detective, Lesley retired and discovered a new passion: teaching criminal justice at her community college. Then, she developed myriad mystery symptoms that got increasingly worse. While she was finally diagnosed and is gradually improving with treatment, Lyme disease plus coinfections stole what should have been the best years of her life post-retirement. This is Lesley’s story. ?? Do you have a story to share? Connect with us at https://lnkd.in/eFh5ajNd #projectlyme #lyme #lymedisease #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #chronicillness #chronicpain #neurological #brain #health #medicine #tickbite #babesia #bartonella #depression #anxiety #mentalhealth #patientstories

TICKS ON THE MOVE: Ticks are hitching rides on migratory birds, establishing themselves in new geographical areas and spreading dangerous infections like Powassan virus, Anaplasmosis, and Lyme disease. To better understand the threat, researchers set up nets to capture songbirds at key stopover sites along the northern Gulf of Mexico and collect ticks. Over 421 individual ticks were recorded from 28 songbird species, some of which had traveled up to 3,100 miles. The most common pathogens carried by these ticks were Francisella bacteria (which can cause tularemia), Rickettsia (which can cause spotted fevers), Candidatus Midichloria, and Spiroplasma. “If conditions become more hospitable for tropical tick species to establish themselves in areas where they would previously have been unsuccessful, then there is a chance they could bring new diseases with them,” said study coauthor Shahid Karim, a biologist from the University of Southern Mississippi. Read more about the science in this article by Popular Science: https://lnkd.in/erJxSHMt #projectlyme #lyme #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #health #tickbite #medicine #chroniclyme #birds #songbirds #climatechange #science #research

Children are at the greatest risk of contracting Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. That’s why faculty and students from Drexel University have designed an exciting new video game called TickAttack? to teach players ages 8 and up how to prevent tick bites and avoid getting dangerous infections. Created based on input from medical experts, TickAttack? uses mini-games and educational dialogues to spread awareness and combat common misconceptions about tick-borne diseases. The goal is to encourage young players and their families to adopt simple preventative measures to protect them from tick bites when they go outside. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eeSFEJSK #projectlyme #lyme #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #health #tickbite #medicine #chroniclyme #parenting #children #family #videogames #games #science #research #news

Hundreds of people in the U.S. and Canada suffer from Colorado Tick Fever each year — and many more cases may go misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. Characterized by a sudden fever that lasts a few days, goes away for a few days, and then returns, this tick-borne disease is not so widely known. Check out this video to learn more about the hallmark symptoms. Read more about Colorado Tick Fever on our website: https://lnkd.in/er4gd3wA #projectlyme #lymedisease #lymediseaseawareness #lymewarrior #tickbornediseases #tickbite #coinfections #coloradotickfever #fever #bacteria #symptoms #reels

Invasive plants like Japanese barberry help create humid, dense thickets, which offer shelter to white-footed mice, the most common hosts of the blacklegged ticks that carry Lyme disease and other infections. Over the next five years, a group of scientists from Vermont and Maine will survey for ticks at 30 different locations in New England and test out different management techniques, which they will use to educate landowners about reducing both invasive species and ticks. Some experts are skeptical about the effectiveness of this approach, pointing out that using tick repellents and performing regular tick checks are generally effective prevention strategies that require far less effort. But Dr. Allie Gardner, a medical entomologist at the University of Maine who is working on the project, explains that their research has the long-term potential to reduce the threat of Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections: “We know that there’s an intense dislike of invasive plants, and, similarly, of ticks… We’re looking for win-wins.” Learn more in this piece from Science Friday: https://lnkd.in/esYUu-58 #projectlyme #lyme #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #health #tickbite #medicine #chroniclyme #invasivespecies #invasiveplants #barberry #japanesebarberry #tickcontrol #science #research #news

Project Lyme is proud to be a sponsor of the annual International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) Scientific Conference. For the third year in a row, we have not only participated in the event ourselves but also sponsored grants enabling doctors who have never attended before to come and soak in the fundamentals course and learn from their peers. This year, the theme was “Redefining Lyme Disease: The Fusion of Science and Practice,” bringing together healthcare professionals, researchers, and advocates to advance the understanding and treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses. Check out our overview of highlights from the conference in our brand-new blog post: https://lnkd.in/eTZrNYAA #projectlyme #ilads #lymedisease #lymediseaseawareness #chroniclyme #lymewarrior #coinfections #tickbornediseases #medicine #health #science #research #conference #event #advocacy #makingadifference

A promising new Lyme disease test called LymeSeek?, created through a collaboration between Tulane University and Focus on Lyme, claims to be over 90% accurate, including in the pivotal first 14 days after a tick bite. With current Lyme tests proving less than 50% accurate, this could be a huge step forward for our community. LymeSeek? is the result of over 9 years of research and utilizes machine learning and advanced biomarker research from Dr. Monica Embers of Tulane University, whose work Project Lyme is proud to have supported. The goal is to get FDA approval so that this newer, more accurate test can be made available to all patients by the year 2026. Read more in this press release: https://lnkd.in/gBi2Nk34 #projectlyme #lyme #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #health #tickbite #medicine #chroniclyme #diagnostic #testing #science #research #news