ANZ Lyme Disease reality
April 15, 2014
Following a position statement
by The Royal College of Pathologists
of Australasia (RCPA) wherein they
reiterated their long-held belief
that there is no established Lyme
Disease (or Borreliosis) in Australia
or New Zealand (PD 08 2014),
Sarcoidosis Lyme Australia (SLA)
and the Lyme Disease Association
of Australia (LDAA) have responded
very strongly.
The LDAA has made a number of
points which we summarise below.
The RCPA position statement
said that there is only evidence for
imported Lyme disease which has
been brought in by people bitten by
ticks overseas.
The LDAA contends that there is
in fact a growing number of people
with locally acquired Lyme-like
illness in people who have never
travelled overseas.
“The RCPA needs to be reminded
that the absence of evidence is not
the evidence of absence,” says the
LDAA, and “A disease does not have
to be ‘officially recognised’ to be
present” pointing out that there
has been a lack of research and
data collection in the area resulting
in a perception that there is no
disease.
“The most irredeemable
statement currently used in regard
to the Lyme situation in this
country is that ‘there is no evidence
to suggest...’
“It is disappointing to the LDAA to
see this position perpetuated again
within the Pathology community,”
the spokesperson said, citing
more than eight specific academic
reports of borrelia burgdorferi
genotypes in Australia.
The Department of Health
is considering embarking on a
research program on the disease
following their recent public
consultation on the Scoping Study
on Lyme Disease, and there is
also work underway to develop a
diagnostic pathway.
Other issues that the LDAA have
taken with the RCPA relate to the
chronic nature of the disease, the
need for ongoing therapy, related
syndromes, timely diagnosis,
diagnostic techniques, test kits and
adoption of European Guidelines.
A response is expected from the
Department of Health soon.
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