Viral Genetics in the News Again re Chronic Lyme Disease
“The ultimate goal of our research is to identify and optimize a new therapy for Lyme Disease that inhibits chronic inflammation and focuses the immune response,” said Dr Karen Newell, the head of the research team.
Dr. Newell will work with Dr. Steven Harris to correlate the ongoing symptoms of patients with Chronic Lyme Disease with the genetically determined patterns of patients “immune response” which are found in their MHC genes. The study also involves performing basic experiments with Borrelia Burgorferi and the impact the organism has on acute and chronic inflammatory responses.
The irony cannot be missed when last week, LDA uncovered a behind the scenes maneuver initiated by the Infectious Diseases Society of America, IDSA- a letter, sent to doctors in specific states, asking them to oppose the Lyme bill, which they describe as one “that would establish a federal advisory panel on Lyme and other tick-borne diseases heavily weighted with patient advocate group representation and with a special seat reserved for a chronic Lyme disease physician.”
In the letter to doctors, the IDSA president said, “the bill’s overt support for chronic Lyme disease and other views promoted by Lyme disease activists is troubling. We are concerned about the federal government backing `chronic´ Lyme disease when Lyme disease has never been shown to be a chronic infection, and when those patients diagnosed with this dubious condition are frequently treated with long-term antibiotic therapy, exposing them to significant risks for questionable benefits. Our mission is to promote public health and good patient care, and we are concerned that this bill would do neither.”
To defeat the bill and the research monies, IDSA asked doctors to sign onto a letter to Congress that states, in part, “we are alarmed at the references to `chronic´ Lyme disease.” It stated some study patients with a “previous diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease did not have Lyme disease at all, but actually had something else, such as rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune disorders, fibromyalgia, or depression-conditions that need treatment with something other than antibiotics.” IDSA “urge[s]” our Congressman to, “oppose it and to not co-sponsor the bill.”
IDSA is trying to silence treating physician and patient voices in DC. It does not want research which can help you be accurately diagnosed and treated, but continues to promote the “not Lyme” diagnosis, which means no antibiotic treatment for you and your families. We NEED you to CALL your federal representatives this week to combat this assault. We MUST ensure our representatives are not swayed by the IDSA´s propaganda!
We all need to call our Senator and Congressmens offices to encourage them to stand up to big business and look at the evidence instead of listening to self-serving medical doctors in bed with the big pharmaceutical companies.
Meanwhile we can all give a cheer to the outstanding work at Viral Genetics and the relentless fundraising efforts of Turn The Corner Foundation. IDSA will not be able to keep chronic Lyme disease in the closet much longer as ethical researchers uncover the obvious truth.
Other post on subject:
Viral Genertics (VRAL) gets Lyme Grant | Lyme Disease Insights Blog - Dr. Newell will work with Dr. Steven Harris to correlate the ongoing symptoms of patients with Chronic Lyme Disease with the genetically determined patterns of patients “immune response” which are found in their MHC genes. …
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Thanks for visiting again - Please comment on the posts you read - everyone is interested in what you have to say.
April 4th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Viral Genetics in my opinion is a cutting edge company, striving to make positive gains toward a new vaccine for Lyme Disease. This little known publicly traded company symbol(VRAL) may have the solutions we are all working for.
April 6th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
I agree! At the very least they are shining light on the aspect of our disease that has been ignored due to its complexity…hopefully a cure will be found before we die, and a vaccine before our grandchildren are suffering with it!