by Morinville News Staff
A federal conference will bring together perspectives on Lyme disease from key stakeholders, including patients’ groups, the medical community, government organizations, and individual Canadians. The conference was kicked off Monday by the Honourable Dr. Jane Philpott, Minister of Health and the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Dr. Gregory Taylor, and will inform the Federal Framework to address the disease.
The government says Lyme disease is a serious emerging infectious disease in many parts of Canada caused by bites from black-legged ticks infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.
Conference discussion will focus on national medical surveillance to track incidence rates and the associated economic costs of Lyme disease; guidelines and best practices for the prevention, identification, treatment, and management of Lyme disease and sharing of best practices throughout Canada; and development of standardized educational materials for use by Canadian public health providers to increase national awareness about the disease.
“This conference provides an opportunity to build on our best practices and discuss how we can better work together to address the challenges of emerging infectious diseases, such as Lyme disease, to protect the health and safety of Canadians,: said Minister of Health Dr. Jane Philpott in a release Monday.
A report outlining the Federal Framework will be posted online within a year. After the report is posted online, it will be tabled in both Houses of Parliament.
