This week, Governor Bob McDonnell signed into legislation HB 1933, which is the Lyme Testing Disease Awareness Act that was introduced by our Loudoun Delegates Barbara Comstock (Chief Patron) and David Ramadan (Chief Co-Patron). I appreciate our Loudoun Representatives in Virginia’s General Assembly getting behind this important issue and highlighting some of the shortcomings with the existing testing methods in order to raise public awareness. Shortcomings with the test method producing false negatives have put patients at risk of missing the short window of an early diagnosis. Early diagnosis is a critical time frame when Lyme disease can frequently be treated with appropriate antibiotics. While this new legislation won’t help those currently infected, it will help new infections have a higher rate of early diagnosis through re-testing within the desirable timeframe.

I was diagnosed with Lyme disease seven years ago, following years of being misdiagnosed. My family and I continue to struggle with the impact the disease has on my health, ever increasing medical costs and related financial burdens. 

Our county government has held managed deer hunts at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve. Our Loudoun Board of Supervisors is currently eyeing an expansion of this program to continue to help address the county’s deer overpopulation and ultimately reduce Lyme disease infection rates locally. This is a great example of local and state government working together to find solutions to improve our quality of life here in Loudoun County.

Richard Thomas

Sterling, Virginia