Some gems: "1. You can only get Lyme disease from a tick bite."
"4. In most cases, it takes 36 to 48 hours for an infected tick to transmit Lyme disease after it attaches itself to you."
"6. The most common symptom of Lyme disease is a bullseye rash."
"7. Lyme disease is officially diagnosed with a blood test."
At first I thought this was an article on myths about Lyme disease, but alas no....
What should be the typical response to articles filled with misinformation, like this one? Can we produce something formal rather than adding comments?
Posts: 243 | From Southern Arizona | Registered: Jun 2015
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
I shouldn't be laughing, sorry! Had to go look up who was involved with this incredibly stupid and inaccurate article- and sure enough- one of the people behind it is none other than...
Phillip J. Baker, executive director of the American Lyme Disease Foundation.
To be honest, I wouldn't worry about it. You certainly can dispute it, but in my opinion it might just be a waste of your time. ??
First, the author won't change it. And second, it is possible, not positive, this same author has done or will do other pieces for dim wit Baker and the gang and there is an agenda of sorts.
Third, it is what the CDC states as fact, so the author and editor will stick to it, wrong or not.
Fourth, the Huffington Post does a good number of Lyme related articles (some by patients), mostly good ones, so we, as a community, can probably take a little hit now and then. Kicking their butts may turn them off to all Lyme articles.
Fifth, most chronic Lyme patients are familiar with Baker and his trash, including doctors treating Lyme patients, and nearly all, if not all, don't pay any attention to his blubbering.
And, Phil Baker's day is coming, soon.
IF you still would like to respond, if I remember right the group, name?, that did the MayDay project, has a nice write up with references to counter the bad junk that you can use to compose your response. I believe I saw it- a long while back- on their website.
In my opinion, the better way to handle this situation is to find someone to put their story in their local paper. Every time we do that more people understand Lyme and we get the word out there. It is something people can relate to.
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Oh, and by the way, I do think comments posted at the site help. They are right there and in your face when you read the trash stuff. I've seen the media pull an article a number of times because of too many responses countering what they said.
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