Hope your New Year has gotten off to a good start! We've kicked off 2013 with plans for a variety of exciting Lyme Research Alliance events. Already our Saturday, April 6, "The Time for Lyme Gala" is shaping up to be a great night of dining, dancing and bidding on an incredible array of auction items, including a two-year lease on a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C-Class and two tickets to the celebrated Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

A great event depends on great sponsors so we're also happy to report that Macy's and Bloomingdale's, the Tommy Hilfiger Family, BNY Mellon Capital Markets, Pepe Auto Group, Moffly Media-Greenwich Magazine, and Greenwich Hospital have signed on to support the Gala. For information or to purchase tickets, call 203-969-1333 or click here.  

We'll have lots more to say about both those events, as well as other activities planned for the year, so stay tuned!

Peter Wild,

203-448-8801  

pwild@lymeresearchalliance.org  

For months, Lyme experts have buzzed about the excellence of the Poughkeepsie Journal's on-going articles about Lyme disease. The woman behind the "No Small Thing" series of eight, meticulously reported articles, is award-winning investigative journalist Mary Beth Pfeiffer. In recognition of her outstanding work, LRA named Mary Beth our first "Person of the Month for 2013.

If you haven't read the entire series yet, you should: go to www.poughkeepsiejournal.com

Yale University researchers reported last month that a new tick-borne infection, similar to Lyme disease, has been found in 18 people in southern New England and upstate New York. While the disease has yet to be given a name, its bacterium-Borrelia miyamotoi -is not exactly new. Yale University scientists discovered it in deer ticks in Connecticut more than a decade ago. Then, in 2011, they found evidence that it was making people sick in Russia. However, this is the first time the disease has been confirmed in humans in the United States. Blood tests for Lyme (caused by Borrelia burgdorferi) will not detect infection with this different strain of borrelia. Perhaps this is why some people who show symptoms of Lyme disease aren't testing positive for it? Research continues.

Yes, some politicians are actually paying attention to the needs of Lyme patients. While much more needs to be done, the Virginia Senate passed a Lyme bill in January that requires patients be told that a negative Lyme test doesn't necessarily mean they are free of Lyme. And in New Hampshire, a new bill has gone into effect that requires many therapies from naturopathic medicine to be covered by health insurance, making treatments more affordable for Lyme patients.

In addition to problems brought on by Lyme, you may suffer from headaches, dizziness, fatigue and other health issues that don't seem to be improving because your home is full of toxins. Matthew Waletzke, a certified building biologist consultant, will speak at the upcoming "Lyme Talks" support group meeting about how to avoid, reduce or eliminate toxins in your home and transform your living environment towards optimal health. All are welcome to attend this free talk.  

Click here for information.