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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: Monte Skall

703-821-8833

natcaplyme

Virginia Lyme Disease Task Force Seeks Solutions

at Final Hearing on April 25

Fairfax, VA—Thursday, April 7, 2011. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s appointed Lyme Disease Task Force will conduct its final hearing on Monday, April 25 at the Fairfax County Government Center in Fairfax, VA. Public Education is the topic as the Task Force collects expert testimony to help the governor address a rapidly evolving Lyme disease epidemic. Residents from five regions of the state told their personal stories of frustration and loss to the Task Force in March, and many common themes emerged that urgently need solutions.

The panel of state officials and key professionals will hear experts testify on the broad range of educational needs. In addition to learning how residents can do their homework, the Task Force will gather information on what schools, parks, community groups, public officials, legislators and medical professionals need to know about Lyme disease and how the information can best be communicated. According to Task Force Chairman Michael Farris, “Lyme disease is dramatically misdiagnosed, and there is too much denial by doctors that chronic Lyme exists.”

Governor McDonnell has designated May as Lyme Awareness Month in Virginia, a reflection of an unpleasant and growing reality in the picturesque state; ticks are passing Lyme and other diseases at an alarming rate. “Unfortunately, most cases of Lyme disease in children can be traced to normal outdoor play,” according to Fairfax County.

The Virginia Department of Health states that the number of human Lyme disease cases in Virginia has increased substantially over the past several years, increasing from 357 reported cases in 2006 to 908 cases reported in 2009. According to the CDC, though, numbers may be ten times as high.

The hearing is free and open to the public. It will be held from 12:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the Board of Supervisor’s Auditorium at the Fairfax County Government Center at 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035. (See below for directions and list of speakers.)

Directions from I-66:

• Exit 55B, onto Fairfax County Parkway North (Route 7100)
• Right turn at light onto Fair Lakes Parkway East
• Right turn at light onto Monument Drive
• Right turn at light onto Government Center Parkway
• GovernmentCenter to your left

Visitor parking is free and is found both to the left and right of the main entrance.

The Board of Supervisor’s Auditorium is entered at the rear of the main lobby level on the right.

Expert Witnesses:

Jorge R. Arias, Ph.D.

Entomologist and Disease Carrying Insects Program (DCIP) Supervisor

Fairfax County Department of Health

Peter F. Demitry, M.D., M.P.H.

Haymarket, Virginia

Graham J. Hickling, Ph.D.

Director, Center for Wildlife Health

University of Tennessee

Robert C Bransfield, M.D., D.L.F.A.P.A

President, International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS)

Psychiatrist, Red Bank, New Jersey

Holly Gaff, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences

Virginia Modeling, Analysis and SimulationCenter

OldDominionUniversity

Wayne Hynes, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair, Department of Biological Sciences

OldDominionUniversity

2 lay witnesses will also testify.

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P.O. Box 8211 • McLean, VA 22106-8211 • Phone & Fax 703-821-8833 • www.natcaplyme.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: Monte Skall

703-821-8833

natcaplyme@natcaplyme.org

VIRGINIA LYME DISEASE TASK FORCE NEEDS

PUBLIC INPUT AT HEARINGS IN MARCH

McLean, VA – Thursday, March 3, 2011. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s appointed Lyme Disease Task Force held its first public testimony hearings March 1 in Virginia Beach and Richmond. Scores of residents testified about the detrimental impacts of Lyme disease and the problems of finding prompt diagnosis and treatment. Three more public testimony hearings are scheduled in March. The Task Force needs to hear from as many residents as possible from throughout Virginia. (See below for more information.)

Anyone may address Chairman Michael Farris and other Task Force members at the hearings on March 15 in Harrisonburg and Roanoke, and on March 22 in Springfield. The public testimony hearings are being held because of the growing concerns of Virginia residents about the spread and nature of Lyme disease. “Whole families are ill and are being permanently harmed,” Michael Farris says. Written comment can be directed to Mr. Farris at Lyme@PHC.edu.

Another important hearing in March is the third in a series of expert witness hearings. It will be held on March 18, from 1-4 PM in the Perimeter Center outside of Richmond. It will cover the topic of Lyme Disease and Children. Physicians, a psychologist, a school nurse, and three patients will testify about the impact of Lyme disease on children. The two previous hearings covered topics in diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The expert witness hearings are open to the public, but there is no opportunity for observers to comment. A fourth and final expert witness hearing is anticipated later in the spring on Lyme disease education.

More than nine hundred new cases of Lyme in Virginia were reported in 2009, and the CDC indicates ten times as many residents, particularly children, may be afflicted with this insidious disease.

All hearings are free and open to the public.

***Virginia residents are invited to speak (about 5 minutes per speaker, dependent on the number of participants) at the following hearings:

March 15 from 1-4 PM--Festivals Highlands Room, Festival Conference and Student Center, James Madison University, 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807. General parking is available across the street in the D-3 lot. Lot security will allow parking there for attendees without a campus sticker. Campus map:http://web.jmu.edu/parking/parkingmap2010.pdf

March 15 from 7-10 PM--Stonewall Jackson Middle School, 1004 Montrose Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24013

March 22 from 7-10 PM--Immanuel Bible Church (main auditorium), 6911 Braddock Road, Springfield, VA 22151

***The following hearing is an expert witness hearing. The hearing is free and open to the public, but there will be no opportunity for public comment:

March 18 from 1-4 PM--Hearing on Lyme Disease and Children. The Perimeter Center in the Commonwealth Conference Center on the 2nd floor, Board Room 3. 9960 Mayland Drive, Henrico, VA 23233. Ample free parking is available.

Expert Witnesses:

Jennifer Jones, R.N., B.S.N., N.C.S.N.

School Nurse

Trinity Christian School, Fairfax, VA

Daniel E. Keim, M.D.

Physician

Pediatric Infectious Disease Group

Leesburg and Fairfax, VA

Carolyn M. Walsh, M.D.

Physician

Lansdowne, VA

Leo J. Shea III, Ph.D.

Neuropsychologist

Neuropsychological Evaluation and Treatment Services, P.C.

New York, NY

Three lay witnesses will also testify.

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P.O. Box 8211 • McLean, VA 22106-8211 • Phone & Fax 703-821-8833 • www.natcaplyme.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: Monte Skall

703-821-8833

natcaplyme@natcaplyme.org

VIRGINIA LYME DISEASE TASK FORCE TO HOLD

SIX HEARINGS IN MARCH

Purcellville, VA - Tuesday, February 22, 2011. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s appointed Lyme Disease Task Force will conduct a total of six hearings in March in multiple regions of the state. The hearings are designed to gather important information about the effectiveness of diagnostic tools and treatments and to discuss ways to increase awareness of this devastating disease to aid Virginia residents and medical practitioners.

Five of the hearings will be public forums. Anyone may address Chairman Michael Farris and other Task Force members. The public testimony hearings are being held because of the growing concerns of Virginia residents about the spread and nature of Lyme disease. “Whole families are ill and are being harmed,” Michael Farris says. The five public testimony hearings are being held in Virginia Beach, Richmond, Harrisonburg, Roanoke, and Fairfax. (See below for more information.)

The additional hearing in March is the third in a series of expert witness hearings. It will be held on March 18, from 1-4 PM in the Perimeter Center outside of Richmond. It will cover the topic of Lyme and Children. Physicians, a psychologist, a school nurse, and three patients will testify about the impact of Lyme disease on children. The two previous hearings covered topics in diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The expert witness hearings are open to the public, but there is no opportunity for observers to comment. A fourth and final expert witness hearing is anticipated later in the spring on Lyme disease education.

More than nine hundred new cases of Lyme in Virginia were reported in 2009, and the CDC indicates ten times as many residents, particularly children, may be afflicted with this insidious disease.

All hearings are free and open to the public.

***Virginia residents are invited to speak (about 5-7 minutes per speaker, dependent on the number of participants) at the following hearings:

March 1 from 1-4 PM--Moot Court Room (in Robertson Hall, first floor), Regent University, 1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23464

March 1 from 7-10 PM--The Perimeter Center in the Commonwealth Conference Center on the 2nd floor, Board Room 2. 9960 Mayland Drive, Henrico, VA 23233. Ample free parking is available.

March 15 from 1-4 PM--Festivals Highlands Room, Festival Conference and Student Center, James Madison University, 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807. General parking is available across the street in the D-3 lot. Lot security will allow parking there for attendees without a campus sticker. Campus map:

http://web.jmu.edu/parking/parkingmap2010.pdf

March 15 from 7-10 PM--Stonewall Jackson Middle School, 1004 Montrose Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24013

March 22 from 7-10 PM--Immanuel Bible Church (main auditorium), 6911 Braddock Road, Springfield, VA 22151

***The following hearing is an expert witness hearing. The hearing is free and open to the public, but there will be no opportunity for public comment:

March 18 from 1-4 PM--Hearing on Lyme and Children. The Perimeter Center in the Commonwealth Conference Center on the 2nd floor, Board Room 3. 9960 Mayland Drive, Henrico, VA 23233. Ample free parking is available.

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P.O. Box 8211 • McLean, VA 22106-8211 • Phone & Fax 703-821-8833 •http://www.natcaplyme@natcaplyme.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:

Monte Skall, 703-821-8833 monte@skall.net

FIRST PUBLIC TESTIMONY HEARING FOR

VA LYME DISEASE TASK FORCE

Purcellville, VA- Thursday, February 10, 2011. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s Lyme Disease Task Force will conduct its first hearing to receive testimony from the public on Tuesday, March 1 from 1-4 PM at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. Anyone who wishes to address the chairman Michael Farris and other members of the task force is invited to speak.

Input from the public hearings will be combined with information from four expert witness hearings to develop recommendations to the governor to assist victims of Lyme disease, enable better diagnosis and treatment, and help lower the incidence of tick-borne disease.

A second public testimony hearing will be held in Richmond on March 1 from 7-10 PM, the venue yet to be determined, with additional hearings throughout the state later in March. All hearings are free and open to the public.

Information for the first public testimony hearing:

Tuesday, March 1 from 1-4 PM in the Moot Court Room (in Robertson Hall, first floor)

Regent University

1000 Regent University Drive

Virginia Beach, VA 23464

http://www.regent.edu/about_us/campuses/campusmapflyer.pdf

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