Virginia Lyme Disease Task Force Hearing
Henrico, Virginia
Friday, January 21, 2011
1:00 to 4:00 pm
http://www.virginia.gov/cmsportal3/cgi-bin/calendar.cgi
More Information About the Selected Meeting
GOVERNOR’S LYME DISEASE TASK FORCE
TO CONDUCT SECOND HEARING
Richmond, VA- Friday January 7, 2011.
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s appointed Lyme Disease Task Force will conduct its second expert testimony hearing on Friday, January 21, 2011 in the Perimeter Center outside Richmond. The hearing is designed to gather important information about methods of prevention of this rapidly spreading vector borne illness.
A similar hearing held in November focused on improving diagnostic tests and increasing awareness among patients and medical practitioners. Expert witnesses for this month’s session will include representatives from academia, public health and government agencies (see below for speaker affiliations).
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.
According to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), in addition to the Eastern Shore and Northern Virginia, areas of high incidence now include counties to the south and west. “Whole families are ill and are being harmed,” says Michael Farris, chairman of the Task Force.
Mr. Farris is a United States constitutional lawyer and the Chancellor of Patrick Henry College. Members of the task force include physicians, patient representatives, state health and wildlife officials, a veterinarian and other key professionals.
In addition to further expert testimony hearings, the task force will hold five geographically-organized forums to gather the testimonies of patients and caregivers. These forums will be held over the course of 2011 in Northern Virginia, Norfolk, Richmond, Roanoke and Harrisonburg. The output of the expert hearings and patient forums will be developed into recommendations for Governor McDonnell’s consideration.
All hearings are free and open to the public.
The January 21 hearing will be held from 1:00PM until 4:00PM at the Perimeter Center in the Commonwealth Conference Center on the second floor. The Perimeter Center is easily accessible off 1-64 at 9960 Mayland Drive, Henrico, Virginia 23233. Ample free parking is available.
Expert witnesses:
Dr. David N. Gaines
Public Health Entomologist
VA Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology
Nelson Lafon
Assistant Deer Project Leader
VA Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
J. Mathews (Mat) Pound, PhD
Research Entomologist
USDA-ARS Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Service
Dr. Charles Apperson
Public Health Entomologist
North Carolina State University
Kerry Clark, M.P.H., PhD.
Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Health
University of North Florida
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Subject: Governor's VA Lyme Disease Task Force Hearing 1/21
Greetings to each of you.
I was appointed this fall to Governor McDonnell's VA Lyme Disease Task Force, and so I want to invite you and/or representatives from the college to attend a hearing this Friday, Jan. 21 in Richmond from 1-4 PM.
The topic for this hearing is Lyme disease prevention. The incidence of Lyme and tick-borne disease is growing in the Tidewater area according to the VA Dept. of Health (VDH).
The hearing will include expert testimony by the developer of the four-poster method of tick control Dr. Mat Pound as well as Nelson La Fon, a VA expert on deer control, and Dr. David Gaines, our VDH chief entomologist.
In addition, Dr. Charles Apperson, the distinguished Public Health Entomologist from NC State will give us his best information on a broad spectrum of interventions based on his expertise and research. A cutting edge researcher
Dr. Kerry Clark from Univ. of N FL will also add his perspectives on Lyme in the southeastern US plus discuss his current research on diagnostics.
The media release for the hearing is copied below. Please feel free to forward this information to any appropriate individuals. Thank you!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Dr. Michael Farris, Chairman
540-338-5600
Lyme@PHC.edu