CHARLTON, Mass. – April 28, 2014 – In honor of Lyme Disease Awareness Month, Harrington HealthCare System, the Harrington Auxiliary and Sturbridge Lyme Awareness of Massachusetts (S.L.A.M.) are coming together to host a special public event “Its Time We Talk About Lyme” on Saturday, May 10 at the Charlton Public Library.
The seminar will be held inside Dexter Hall at 1 p.m.
“To bring further awareness and education to our community about Lyme disease is so important,” said SLAM Founder Trish McCleary. “We want everyone – physicians, families, town officials and public figures – to be better informed about this disease and understand how to prevent infection.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control, Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borne illnesses in the United States with around 300,000 Americans diagnosed every year. It has a heavy concentration in the northeast.
“Lyme disease is not uncommon in New England during the warmer months and is probably under reported,” said Dr. Mike Gaudet, Harringtons Infectious Disease Physician. “Fortunately, the disease is preventable. The majority of cases have typical signs and symptoms, and standard treatment is highly effective. However, there does remain a lot of confusion around testing and the controversial ‘chronic Lyme.”
The event will feature two speakers: Millbury resident Brandon Lacrosse, who experienced Lyme disease and chronicled it in a video for a school project; and Dr. Tom Moorcroft, a board certified family medicine physician who sits on the Board of Directors for the International Lyme and Associated Disease Society.
Following the presentations, there will be an open Q&A session with Lacrosse, Moorcroft, Gaudet and Harrington Physician Services Rheumatologist Dr. Samuel Poon.
The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be served.
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