Pictured in the first row from left are: Peter Wagner, Senator Stewart Greenleaf (Sponsor of the Senate bill), Governor Tom Corbett, Representative Matt Baker (Sponsor of the House bill), Sean Robinson, Lisa Gaffney, Josie Gaffney, and Kelly Locy. Second row from left: Sarah Wagner, Eric Pauley (Executive Assistant, Senator Greenleaf’s office), Julia Wagner (President PA Lyme Resource Network), Doug Fearn of West Chester (President Lyme Disease Association of SE PA), Heidi Healy, Nicole Sidle (PA House Health Committee), Elizabeth Yarnell (Legislative Analyst Human Services Committee, PA House), Amy Tiehel (Board of PALRN and Region Leader Delaware County Lyme Support Group), Linda Olley, RN, Chad, Katie, and Kim Robinson, Bob Holtzman.
Last week, Gov. Tom Corbett signed The Lyme and Related Tick-Borne Disease Surveillance, Education, Prevention Act, which adds a number of new weapons in the fight against Lyme Disease — and an effort championed by many in the Chester County area, including the Chester/Delaware County Farm Bureau.
Lyme Disease, spread by deer ticks, continues to be an emerging health crisis in Chester County — one the of the nation’s hot spots for the disease.
On Nov. 17, Gove. Corbett held a ceremonial signing of Senate Bill #177, The Lyme and Related Tick-Borne Disease Surveillance, Education, Prevention Act.
The bill includes the first tick surveillance program in Pennsylvania, educational access for affected school children, a prevention focus in the schools regarding childrens’ tick bites on school property, and a new task force to provide recommendations to enhance prevention, educate doctors on current research on these emerging diseases, improve the patient experience, and provide access to more appropriate care in the commonwealth.
