Cape Cod and the Islands are hot spots for Lyme disease. 2017 data from the State Department of Public Health showed Dukes County leading the state in Lyme disease followed by Berkshire and Plymouth counties, Nantucket 4th, and Barnstable ranked 6th. On The Point, we discuss how Lyme disease affects the body, why it can be difficult to diagnose, and the toll chronic Lyme takes on psychological and physical health. We’ll also talk with researchers about their work tracking the spread of the disease.
Guests on the program are Dr. Stephen Rich, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Dr. Najam Zaidi, Infectious Disease Doctor at Southcoast Health.
Dr. David Crandell, M.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the Harvard Medical School and the Clinical Co-Director for the Dean Center for Tick Borne Illness at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Here's a link to a website, lymedisease.org, for more information.
And here's a link to tickreport where you can get proffessional tick testing and help build a data base to study tick-borne illness.
Here is a list of Cape Wide Lyme Disease Support Groups:
UPPER CAPE:
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Cape Cod/ Sandwich Site, 311 Service Road East Sandwich, MA 02537
Last Monday of Each Month in the FF Conference Room from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
LOWER CAPE:
Spaulding Rehab Outpatient Center, 65 Old Colony Way, Orleans, Mass 02653
2nd Tuesday every month 4:30pm – 5:30 pm. Check in at front desk
Cape Cod Covenant Church, 11 Satucket Rd, Brewster, MA 02631
3rd Sunday every month 3:00pm – 4:30pm. Park and enter in rear
Anyone with an interest in Lyme is welcome!
Transportation available if needed
Contact: Lisa C Freeman RNC BSN FCN Lfree125@comcast.net
Cape Lyme Advocacy Support Program (CLASP)
