WALK IN THE WOODS

Critical Needs and Gaps in Understanding: Prevention, Amelioration, and Resolution of Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Diseases: The Short-Term and Long-Term Outcomes: Workshop Report.

Editors
Committee on Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Diseases: The State of the Science.
Source
Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2011.
The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health.

Excerpt
It was obvious to participants at the workshop that a significant impasse has developed in the world of Lyme disease. There are conflicts within and among the science; policy; politics; medicine; and professional, public, and patient views pertaining to the subject, which have created significant misunderstandings, strong emotions, mistrust, and a game of blaming others who are not aligned with one’s views. Lines in the sand have been drawn, sides have been taken, and frustration prevails. The “walk in the woods” process of conflict resolution or a similar process seems necessary for creating a new environment of trust and a better environment for more constructive dialogue to help focus research needs and achieve better outcomes. Such a process does not imply a compromise of the science but rather is needed to shift to a more positive and productive environment to optimize critical research and promote new collaborations.

Go to the link here to read this excellent report laid out into easily accessible sections.
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WALK IN THE WOODS - this process is so long overdue and aptly named in more ways than one, I spent the weekend listening to the ILADS 2011 Toronto conference streamed live - so much research is available and has been from 20,30+ years, even written by the IDSA denialists themselves, showing Lyme Disease and other tick borne illnesses to be difficult to test for and capable of persistent infection despite several courses of antibiotics - why do our Health Departments choose to ignore such a body of evidence?

It makes no sense which ever way you consider this - the health burden costs in themselves would make economic sense in ensuring that people are early diagnosed and treated not to mention adequate treatment for those of us who develop a chronic Lyme Disease, that's without the most obvious need to improve the quality of life for so many patients who like me have an antibiotic responsive illness following a tick bite.

It was a walk in the woods next to my home where I was bitten by ticks that caused my Lyme Disease illness and there is a growing number of my neighbours also infected, here's hoping this process of 'Walk in the Woods' - helps to get our doctors really working hard together to reduce this growing burden of ill health.