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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20170&cosponId=24879
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House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: November 30, 2017 02:16 PM
From: Representative Rosemary M. Brown
To: All House members
Subject: NE Wildlife Lab at East Stroudsburg University Lyme Disease Testing
 
In the near future, I will be introducing a resolution to recognize the Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory at East Stroudsburg University for being a leader in tick testing.

As we are all very much aware, over the last six years Pennsylvania has ranked highest in the country in the number of confirmed cases of Lyme disease. In 2016, Pennsylvania reported 12,200 confirmed cases. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that the number of confirmed cases of Lyme disease only depicts a portion of the total number of cases which can be 10 times greater -- indicating PA could have upwards of 122,000 cases per year. This would represent about 40% of the nation’s cases of Lyme disease in Pennsylvania alone.

Many may not know, however, that Pennsylvania is home to one of the leading tick testing laboratories in the United States. Founded in 2005, the East Stroudsburg University Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory is the only tick testing laboratory in Pennsylvania that provides tick-borne pathogen identification to the public. The DNA lab currently tests thousands of ticks each year and utilizes the data for surveillance of tick species and infection rates across the Commonwealth.

The Lab also developed Lyme-Aid, a tick testing kit for people and pets, which is the first commercialized faculty-student research project in the 124 year history of the University. On July 20, 2017, the kit was rebranded and launched as the Cutter Lyme Disease Tick Test, which is the first nationally recognized brand name product developed at East Stroudsburg University. The tests provides fast, 99.9 percent accurate DNA test results determining if a tick carries the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

With Lyme disease posing a serious threat to the quality of life of many Pennsylvanians, it is vital that we do all we can to make the detection of Lyme disease easier and faster for people. Early detection of Lyme disease is critical for a good recovery. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important resolution to recognize East Stroudsburg’s noteworthy work and their importance to the prevention of Lyme Disease and Tick-borne illness.

Thank you for your consideration.



Introduced as HR627