Re: "The Army is contributing $4.8 million toward the research because the government thinks ticks could be used in a bioterrorist plot to spread infectious diseases."


sheikabubinladen@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
"The Army is contributing $4.8 million toward the research because the
government thinks ticks could be used in a bioterrorist plot to spread
infectious diseases."



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Speakers hail Lyme research
Awareness month is May
By Dan Shapley
Poughkeepsie Journal

April 27, 2006

The number of cases of ehrlichiosis and babesiosis, both spread by the
same black-legged tick that carries Lyme disease, rose steeply in
Dutchess County last year.

The tiny blood-sucking arachnid already causes 1,300 documented cases
of Lyme disease every year in Dutchess, on average in the past decade.
Lyme disease causes a flu-like illness that can lead to severe
neurological, arthritic and cardiac problems if not treated promptly
and effectively with antibiotics.

And a new type of tick, the lone star tick, is making inroads in the
county, promising yet another way to get ill from enjoying the outdoors
in the Hudson Valley.

But there is hope, speakers said at a press conference in Poughkeepsie
Wednesday that signaled an early kick-off to Lyme Disease Awareness
Month in May.

A federal bill supporting research has increased support among local
representatives, and scientists are already making progress toward
developing a vaccine that would prevent black-legged ticks from biting.

"There is a lot of research going on to solve this problem," said
Stephen Wikel, a University of Connecticut scientist who was invited to
speak by the Hudson Valley Lyme Disease Association.

Tick-spit project

Wikel is working to sequence the genome of the black-legged tick. The
aim is to understand how tick spit thwarts the human immune response,
so that a vaccine can be developed to thwart tick spit. The Army is
contributing $4.8 million toward the research because the government
thinks ticks could be used in a bioterrorist plot to spread infectious
diseases.

In Dutchess County, documented cases of the malaria-like babesiosis
were up to 31 in 2005, from eight the past two years, according to
preliminary Department of Health data. Documented cases of
ehrlichiosis, which is now being called anaplasmosis, were also up
significantly - to 194 cases from an average of 65 the previous three
years.

Commissioner of Health Dr. Michael Caldwell said concerted educational
efforts have helped residents and doctors better prevent and treat
tick-borne diseases.

"We're frustrated. We've done all we can, and we need that research to
push us forward," Caldwell said. "Ultimately, we're going to need a
vaccine that can protect us from the bite of a tick."

A federal bill, the Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education
and Research Act, would spend $100 million over five years on research
and education. It has support from local Democrats and Republicans, but
it is unclear how much support it has across the country.

"I'm hopeful we will be able to speed up the process of finding ways
that Lyme disease can be detected, treated and prevented," said Lori
Patricola, the Hudson Valley representative of U.S. Rep. John Sweeney,
R-Clifton Park.

Dan Shapley can be reached at dshapley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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