Take a Bite Out of Lyme

Lyme disease takes a huge bite out of people’s lives, affecting about 30,000 people in the U.S. each year, according to the CDC. Together, we can fight back by working to prevent Lyme disease and raise awareness and funding for improved Lyme disease treatment.

The “Take a Bite Out of Lyme Disease” Challenge kicked-off in 2015 by a team looking to support those suffering from Lyme Disease and continues as an ongoing fun, easy and impactful platform to spread the word about Lyme disease. We’ve joined the challenge and have shared their resources below and hope you will too.

Participants show their support of Lyme disease sufferers by:

  1. Taking a Bite. Create social-media worthy photos and videos by taking a bite out of a sour, juicy lime. (The more sour your face, the better.)
  2. Sharing a Fact. Include one brief fact about Lyme disease, such as those listed below.
  3. Passing it On. Challenge three other people to take a bite through mentions in the video, tagging them in the photo or challenging them in person.
  4. Posting it. Post to social media with the hashtag #LymeDiseaseChallenge to generate more conversation about the disease.
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Why we need to take a bite out of Lyme

  • Children are at the highest risk of contracting Lyme disease, and are more vulnerable to central nervous system infections.
  • Transmission of Lyme disease and other infections can take place in a matter of minutes; particularly, if the tick is not removed properly.
  • Lyme disease has been called “The Great Imitator” and can be mistaken for ALS, MS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other illnesses.
  • Research suggests that Lyme disease can be spread from mother to baby during pregnancy.
  • Studies show that standard laboratory tests recommended by the CDC to diagnose Lyme disease miss approximately half of actual cases, leading to misdiagnosis and an infection that is more difficult to treat.
  • Over 63 percent of patients treated for Lyme disease continue to suffer symptoms that can become debilitating.
  • The CDC estimates that there are 300,000 new cases of Lyme disease each year in the U.S.
  • Fewer than 50 percent of patients with Lyme disease recall a tick bite or rash.
  • There are no tests available to prove that the bacterium that caused Lyme disease has been eradicated or a patient is cured after treatment.
  • Ticks can carry many different types of bacterial, viral and parasitic infections, some life-threatening, which can further complicate tick-borne disease diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

Facts and challenge information sourced from Lyme Disease Challenge and can be found by visiting www.lymediseasechallenge.org.