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Wednesday, November 4, 2009

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Ward to speak at Sunday's premiere of documentary on Lyme disease

Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, will speak briefly on Lyme disease legislation at Sunday's Minneapolis premiere of "Under Our Skin," a documentary that's co-sponsored by the Minnesota Lyme Action Support Group.

Minnesota Film Arts is presenting the Lyme disease documentary. Show days and times are: 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday, and 7:30 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday at the Oak Street Cinema, 309 Oak St. in Minneapolis.

The screenings are part of an effort to raise awareness and help pass Minnesota Senate bill Senate File 1631, which will allow patients with Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases and their doctors - not insurance companies - to decide what treatment protocol to follow.

Dr. Elizabeth Maloney, MLASG medical consultant, will be on hand for questions after all screenings.

Here are some of the basic points offered by the support group:

Lyme disease is the fastest-growing vector-borne disease in the United States. Minnesota ranks 8th, with 1,282 cases reported in 2008.

The CDC estimates the number to be 10 times that, making LD bigger than West Nile and Avian flu combined.

One in three deer ticks in Minnesota carry the Lyme bacteria, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

Lyme cases have spiked 450 percent in Minnesota from 1998-2008.

The Minnesota Lyme Action Support Group provides educational opportunities for physicians, advocacy for patients, information on tick-borne diseases and support to those infected with Lyme disease.

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