Action needed now

Dear editor:
I am the person who forwarded the request to Fort Frances council asking for its endorsement of the Lyme disease petition. I am writing this letter to respond to the article printed in the Fort Frances Times last week in regards to this issue.
MPP Bob Bailey started this petition after I and many other constituents in his district contacted him about the difficulties facing Ontarians who contract Lyme disease in this province. Fort Frances Coun. John Albanese, who also chairs the Northwestern Health Unit’s board of health, stated that the petition is politically-driven, which I guess a person would say is true since Lyme disease is a political issue in this province and this country.
In fact, if a person were to do some research about this disease and how it has been handled in Ontario, and across this country, most would be shocked.
This petition will be the second one in less than two years to be brought forth to Queen’s Park. There have been letter-writing campaigns to the minister of health, press conferences held by the Lyme Action Group at Parliament, and “Wall of Hope” rallies and numerous contacts made to both the provincial and federal government on how this disease is being handled in this province and country.
To address my “jumping the gun” on this issue without knowing all the Ministry of Health is doing, I am well aware of what the Ministry of Health is doing. I’ve had numerous exchanges with the ministry on this very issue. I also have first-hand experience, and hundreds of shared experiences of other Lyme disease sufferers throughout this province, on the reality of Lyme disease in this province.
As for seeking a wide-scale education program, I am aware of the “Let’s Target Lyme” campaign that began in 2010. I also have spoken to the ministry about the campaign and how it has been distributed to the province of Ontario.
From my understanding, the campaign was sent to all health units to have information sent to all doctors in the province. As well, camping and conservation areas that are endemic were sent the campaign, including the surround community of the endemic area.
It is not enough. There are quite a few studies showing that migrating birds, especially song birds, are bring in ticks from the U.S. annually by the millions into Canada. We need a wide-scale public education program, with alerts issued province-wide and using all forms of communication available to the government (similar to the campaigns done for West Nile Virus, H1N1, etc.)
This is an incurable disease when not caught in its acute form, and is the fastest-spreading infectious disease North America. People are dying from this.
The public deserves to be warned and educated in order to protect themselves. As public health, I would think that there could never be too much education on a communicable disease.
I just wanted to respond because I do not believe I was “jumping the gun.” This disease is throughout this country and we are all at risk, especially our children.
I am more than educated on the issues. It is public health’s job under the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to ensure the safety of the public and warn with all its power when there is a public health threat.
Lyme disease is serious threat to the public health of Ontario and it is only increasing with time. We need more action now.
Sincerely,
Christine Heffer
Corunna, Ont.