The National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association


The National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association is committed to helping patients diagnosed with tick-borne infections through education, support, and review of public policies concerning these diseases. We encourage individuals to advocate for themselves in their goal to regain their health. We offer patient support group meetings, information, speakers, legislative developments, and news updates. Everyone who is interested in tick-borne infections is welcome to attend our support groups and programs.

The National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

www.NatCapLyme.org

This web site was created to provide information and support to those persons afflicted with tick-borne diseases and their loved ones. Monthly support group meetings of our Washington, D.C. chapter take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the first Sunday of the month with the exception of January, July and September. These meetings are held at Sibley Memorial Hospital, 5255 Loughboro Road, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016-2634. Please see the Directions page under the About Us tab for directions and a map to Sibley Memorial Hospital. The meetings schedules of our other chapters may be found on the chapters link.

If you have questions or would like additional information please contact us at natcaplyme@natcaplyme.org or (703) 821-8833

Professional Golfer to Hit "Birdies for Lyme Disease"Birdies for Lyme Disease

Sara Hurwitch is a young professional golfer playing on the Duramed Future's Tour who wants to support the work of our organization as she plays professional golf. Each birdie she makes will benefit the National Capital Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Association (NatCapLyme) if you make a pledge anytime during the 2010 DFT competitive season. A birdie is a score of one stroke better than par for any golf hole. Sara expects to play nine tournaments in 2010 and average 2-4 birdies per golf round.

Click here to make a pledge!



Chronic Lyme Disease and Associated Co-infection Research

Presentation to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
By The National Capital Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease Association

April 29, 2010
This afternoon we have heard some very important and impressive presentations. But they were presentations that were sterile scientific discussion. We must not forget that this scientific inquiry is motivated by the human experience of a devastating disease. It must continue to be motivated by that human experience as long as that motivation does not prejudice the scientific method.

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Press Release

IDSA panel sticks to its 2006 treatment guidelines despite scientific evidence

Washington, D.C. April 23, 2010 - Monte Skall, Executive Director of the National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association said, “It is a sad day for all patients when medical experts turn their backs on medical research when making treatment recommendations.” Skall refers to the fact that the panel of experts that reviewed the guidelines agreed that all of the 69 original recommendations were medically and scientifically justified while ignoring the large body of research that has found prolonged antibiotic therapy to be effective.k at South Run Park in Springfield, Virginia.

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H.B. 512 - Update - Over one hundred Lyme patients attended the Virginia House of Delegates Committee Hearing on H.B. 512

May Speaker: Dr. Samuel Shor, MD, FACP
Chronic Fatigue in Lyme Disease

Sunday, May 2, 2010
2:00pm - 4:00pm

Ernst Auditorium
Sibley Memorial Hospital
5255 Loughboro Rd., N.W., Washington, DC 20016

Click Here for Directions


Dr. Shor has been a major supporter of Lyme patients in the National Capital Area. He was a featured speaker at the NatCapLyme Congressional briefing and testified before the Virginia House of Delegates in favor of H.B. 512.

Dr. Shor is a practicing physician in Reston, Virginia. He is a preceptor for primary apprenticeship at the George Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Shor is listed in the International Association of Internists of the Leading Physicians of the World, 2010 edition. He has repeatedly been recognized as a Best Doctor by the Washingtonian Magazine, Washington Consumers Checkbook, Northern Virginia Magazine, is the recipient of a Patent's Choice Award from America's Best Doctors at Best Doctors.com and has been a Fellow of the American College of Physicians since 1990.

Dr. Shor is the author of numerous articles on Chronic Fatigue and Lyme disease. He has appeared on National Public Radio on the Diane Rehm show in an interview and debate with Dr. Phil Baker over treatment protocols for Lyme disease.

Dr Shor is the principle investigator in a clinical trial regarding chronic fatigue and Lyme disease, hoping to obtain funding through the NIH.

ILADS Lymewatch - July 30, 2009

View NatCapLyme Statement to IDSA Guidelines Ctee
View Tina Garcia Hearing-Testimony-Final

IDSA Guidelines Review Panel Holds Historic Meeting


National Capital Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease Association would like to thank everyone who cooperated and contributed to the effort to bring attention to the IDSA Guideline Review Panel last month. Working together, independent Lyme groups and their members, contacted local media, conducted a nationwide Twitter chat and spread lime green ribbons around cities and towns across America. Thank you all for your time and energy and a special thanks to Trish McCleary of Sturbridge Lyme Awareness of Massachusetts for advice and guidance on structuring the ribbon campaign.

As you all should know by now, on July 30th, the IDSA (Infectious Disease Society of America) held its anticipated Guideline Review Panel in Washington, D.C., in a small room in the Ronald Reagan Building. The nine panelists focused intently on the task at hand--to hear the 18 presenters during a full day of hearings--from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The IDSA created the new panel to review its Lyme treatment guidelines as required in the 2008 settlement agreement in an antitrust lawsuit brought by Connecticut's Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. Lorraine Johnson posted an informative summary on the background of what led to this event, and all Lyme sufferers from across the county are grateful for the effort she put into bringing this about. Read her account here: http://www.lymedisease.org/news/lymepolicywonk/179.html

Monte Skall, Executive Director of The National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association (NatCapLyme) was fortunate to have been selected as one of the invited guests seated in the Hemisphere A Room to witness the hearing. “As I listened and watched the presenters & panelists, I could not help but think that we were finally getting our voice heard in a creditable way for the first time” she said. “The content of the presentations held no new surprises – it was the atmosphere in the room that was different. We were finally given the opportunity to express our point of view with the dignity we all so rightly deserve”.

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Preventing Lyme Disease Town Meeting

Speakers at the town hall meeting include:

  • Vicki Monroe, Fairfax County wildlife biologist.

  • Monte Skall, Executive Director, National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association.

  • Representatives from the Fairfax County Disease Carrying Insects Program.

Watch Preventing Lyme Disease Town Meeting

Pat Herrity

Supervisor Pat Herrity moderates this town hall meeting that focuses on the different ways Fairfax County residents can protect themselves, their families and their pets from Lyme disease. (CC)

Watch Preventing Lyme Disease Town Meeting: Click Here

Or: Watch Televised Version on Fairfax County Cox Cable Channel 16 on August 11, 8 PM




CDC Meeting
L-R: Bill Merrigan, Claudia Reda, Joy Walker, Mimi Segal, Ben Beard, Monte Skall, Sarah Wiley, Kathy Boileau, Don Boileau


Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: Monte Skall
703-821-8833; monte@skall.net

NATCAPLYME BOARD MEETS WITH CDC REPRESENTATIVES

Washington, D.C., Wednesday, June 25, 2009--Twelve members of the board of the National Capital Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Association met with Dr. Ben Beard from the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) Ft. Collins office and Sarah Wiley from the CDC's Atlanta office to exchange information and discuss their concerns related to Lyme and tick-borne diseases. A planned three-hour meeting extended to nearly four.

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Lyme Disease Awareness Month






Pictured with the Fairfax County Virginia Board of Supervisors are, Front Row: Carl Siversten, Fairfax County Health Department; Supervisor Pat Herrity; Dr. Jorge Arias, Fairfax County Health Department; Monte Skall, National Capital Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease Association Executive Director; Sharon Bulova, Fairfax County Board Chairman; and Thomas Crow, Director, Fairfax County Environmental Health.


April 27, 2009View View Fairfax Proclamation



The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors proclaimed the month of May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month. As warm weather arrives and people spend more time outdoors, it becomes more important to acknowledge the impact of Lyme disease in our community. "Lyme disease has affected hundreds of people in Fairfax County over the last two years," said Jorge Arias, Ph.D., supervisor of the health department's disease carrying insects program. "But, residents who are aware of the threat can easily take steps to protect themselves."

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Press Release

NatCapLyme and Skibo Athletic Training Raise Over $10,000 for Lyme Disease

Four hundred walkers and runners turned up in the cool, drizzly morning hours of Saturday, May 16 to support the cause of Lyme disease in the Washington area for the first annual Lyme disease 5K Run/Walk at South Run Park in Springfield, Virginia.

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Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: Monte Skall
703-821-8833; monte@skall.net

GMU Helps Lyme Disease Victims Unite for Change
REP. FRANK WOLF KICKS OFF DISCUSSION

Washington, D.C., March 28, 2009. More than 160 representatives from Lyme disease organizations in 20 states assembled today at an all-day Legislative Forum facilitated by George Mason University in Arlington, VA, and openly debated topics vital to the future of our nation’s health. The National Capital Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Association and Turn the Corner Foundation sponsored the event.

Lyme disease is one of the most misunderstood and controversial diseases in U.S. history, and cases are dramatically increasing many thousands each year. Lyme victims are seeking long overdue CHANGE--in testing and treatment that will improve their lives and research to cure this debilitating disease

Lyme Legislative Forum Report


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LymeDisease

Lyme Video



This is a 12 minute film that contains basic information you need to know about Lyme Disease. The National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association video was produced and made possible by a generous gift from the George Mason School of Communications.
Please start the video by clicking on the key that looks like this:    Pause Videos

Videos  Watch This Too: Lyme Disease Prevention Video