OLR Report 2012-R-0149 summarizes the Governor's Task Force on Lyme Disease in Virginia, including (1) how the task force was formed, (2) the task force members, and (3) what the task force recommended. You also asked about similar initiatives in other states.
In 2010, Virginia's governor and Health and Human Resources secretary convened a Lyme disease task force, in response to growing cases of Lyme disease and similar illnesses in the state. The task force consisted of stakeholders and experts from the public and private sectors. It made a number of recommendations involving how the state, localities, medical community, and public should approach Lyme disease and related illnesses.
Other states have dealt with the growing Lyme disease problem in a variety of ways. For example, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene formed a subcommittee on Lyme disease, which issued a 2007 report examining the problem of Lyme disease in the state and suggesting specific recommendations for state agencies, many of which have since been implemented. In Massachusetts, the House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight issued a similar report in 2011, recommending creation of a special commission on Lyme disease. The state's FY 12 budget creates such a commission.
Several other states have proposed legislation calling for the creation of a Lyme disease task force, although none have yet passed. In Connecticut, the Public Health Committee favorably reported a bill (HB 5335) in March 2012 that would create a task force to study Lyme disease testing.
Below, we summarize the Virginia task force's report, which is also attached. We also summarize the Maryland and Massachusetts reports.
More information about Lyme disease is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) website. The website includes information on several topics, such as Lyme disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment; case statistics; and links to other resources.
