RFK Jr. Outlines Plan to Curb Lyme Disease The Department of Health and Human Services has announced new initiatives to enhance the prevention and treatment of tick-borne diseases, with a particular focus on Lyme disease and its chronic effects. These efforts include increased research funding, public-private partnerships for tick control, and a commitment to addressing patient concerns regarding lingering symptoms. The administration also aims to develop better diagnostics and individualized treatment approaches for Lyme disease.

• HHS is launching new initiatives for prevention and treatment of tick-borne diseases, including chronic Lyme disease.
• New research funding from NIH and CDC will improve diagnostics and disease prevention.
• An estimated 10%-20% of early-treated Lyme patients remain symptomatic, with roughly 2 million suffering from post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome.
• HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that addressing chronic Lyme symptoms is a top priority.
• New public-private partnerships will target tick elimination on wildlife.
• The administration is working on developing better testing and treatment for chronic Lyme.
• A new HHS website, hhs.gov/lyme, is launched as a resource for patients and families.
• There is ongoing investigation into whether Lyme disease may have been developed as a bioweapon by the U.S. military.