CAMPAIGNING to have locally contracted Lyme disease recognised by Australia governments and health authorities can leave a sour taste with some.
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To that end, a stall at Friday’s SCPA Market in Bega had passers-by eat a segment of lime for May’s “Take a Bite out of Lyme” project.
They were also asked to sign postcards containing relevant stats and stories of Lyme disease in Australia.
Tens of thousands of those postcards are hitting the mailboxes of state and federal politicians around the country, including Andrew Constance and Peter Hendy.
Disappointment at the government and health authorities’ inaction of Lyme disease in Australia is galling to many in the community.
In 2013, the Federal Government established a clinical advisory committee on Lyme disease.
However, in 2014, the Royal College of Pathologists released a position statement, reiterating it can see no evidence of Lyme disease being contracted from the bite of Australian ticks.
That position is vehemently debated by Lyme sufferers in the Bega Valley and beyond, as well as the Lyme Disease Association of Australia, the country’s peak advocacy association for tick-borne diseases.
In late 2012, the Bega District News brought to light the story of a Murrah family who all have contracted Lyme.
At the time, it was believed they were only a few among a handful of local sufferers.
On Friday, those manning the SCPA Market stall said they now knew of at least 37 with it on the Far South Coast – and predicted many more may have it perhaps without realising.
Lyme can impact bodily systems and organs and can mimic the effects of other illnesses, such as, in its “early stage”, flu-like symptoms, fever, muscle soreness and unexplained fatigue.
With “still no progress” on having the disease recognised by the government, those at Friday’s stall were offering information on keeping yourself safe.
“The main thing is avoid ticks,” a spokesperson said.
“Lyme is 100 per cent preventable and no-one should die of a preventable disease.
“Normally people go to the doctor with symptoms and ask them for answers.
“Lyme is the only condition where the burden of proof is on the patient.”
For more information on Lyme disease and this month’s “Take a Bite out of Lyme” campaign, visit the Lyme Disease Association of Australia at www.lymedisease.org.au.
To be part of the campaign, tag your lime-eating selfies on social media with #lymediseasechallenge.
