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Sufferers of the tick born Lyme disease speak up

7/4/2008

Sufferers of the tick born Lyme disease are holding a rally this morning outside of the college of physicians and surgeons of BC to protest what they call a lack of doctor training in recognizing the symptoms of the disease.

The group's Gwen Barlee says Canadian doctors currently rely on blood tests that are inaccurate. She says doctors should be diagnosing patients through a clinical evaluation of their overall symptoms and risk of exposure to infected ticks.

"We're asking minister Abbott to step up to the plate and put money in for surveillance for ticks in British Columbia, to ask the college of physicians and surgeons to tell doctors Lyme disease is here in British Columbia and it's here to stay."

Only 4 to 6 cases are identified in BC annually - a number Barlee says is likely much higher.

Barlee says about 20,000 cases are reported in the US each year but experts believe the disease is under-reported 6 to 12 fold.

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