Archive for the ‘Ticks’ Category

Tackling Long-Haul Diseases

https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/02/28/1087617/tackling-long-haul-diseases/

Tackling long-haul diseases

Long-haul covid and chronic Lyme disease are surprisingly similar. MIT immunoengineer Mikki Tal is on the case.
Allison Guy, SM ’23archive page
February 28, 2024

MIT immunoengineer Michal “Mikki” Tal remembers the exact moment she had an insight that would change the trajectory of her research, getting her hooked on studying a long-neglected disease that leaves millions of Americans suffering without treatment.

It was 2017, and she was a Stanford postdoc exploring connections between her immune regulation research and immuno-oncology, which harnesses the body’s immune system to combat cancer. Her work focused on how healthy cells broadcast “Don’t eat me” messages while cells that are cancerous or infected with a pathogen send self-sacrificing “Eat me” messages. Immune cells, in turn, receive these missives in pocket-like receptors. The receptor that receives the healthy cells’ signal, Tal read as she was poring over the literature that day, is the third most diverse protein in the human population, meaning that it varies a lot from one person to the next. It was a fact that struck her as “very odd.”

Tal, who has been obsessed with infectious disease since losing an uncle to HIV/AIDS and a cousin to meningococcal meningitis, wondered what this striking diversity could reveal about our immune response to infection. According to one hypothesis, the wide array of these receptors is the result of an evolutionary arms race between disease-causing microbes and the immune system. Think of the receptor as a lock, and the “Nothing to see here” message as a key. Pathogens might evolve to produce their own chemical mimics of this key, effectively hiding from the immune system in plain sight. In response, the human population has developed a wide range of locks to frustrate any given impostor key.

Wanting to test this hypothesis, Tal found herself walking the halls of Stanford, asking colleagues, “Who’s got a cool bug?” Someone gave her Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Previous research from Tal’s collaborator Jenifer Coburn, a microbiologist now at the Medical College of Wisconsin, had established that Lyme bacteria sport a special protein crucial for establishing a lasting infection. Knock this protein out, and the immune system swiftly overwhelms the bugs. The big question, however, was what made this protein so essential. So Tal used what’s known as a high-affinity probe as bait—and caught the Borrelia’s mimic of our “Don’t eat me” signal binding to it. In other words, she confirmed that the bacteria’s sneaky protein was, as predicted, a close match for a healthy cell’s signal.  (See link for article)

“Long covid looks exactly, and I mean exactly, like chronic Lyme.” ~ Michal “Mikki” Tal, MIT immunoengineer

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**Comment**

Yet, despite knowing of this ‘sneaky protein’ that establishes a lasting infection, ‘the powers that be’ deny chronic/persistent illness with Lyme/MSIDS.

 While the article factually states there’s no objective way to diagnose chronic Lyme and no medically ‘accepted’ therapy, it regurgitates the ‘same o, same o’ myth that only 10% suffer chronic symptoms.
It also correctly points out that short-term doxycycline, the widely ‘accepted’ treatment for Lyme, only prevents the bacteria from replicating which relies upon the immune system to kill off invaders which often doesn’t work due to the fact Lyme effectively gives patients immune system dysfunction – rendering it virtually useless. The article states that lengthy antibiotics can “ease” symptoms.  I would disagree with this.  For a subset of patients, it makes them completely well.
Predictably coinfection involvement is entirely missing from the conversation.
The author is far more into gender differences, which is the buzz word of the day, matters little, and won’t matter a tittle in helping patients get better.  This ‘flavor of the day’ approach to research is the new norm and is unfortunately now required to get coveted government grants.  All researchers know this little factoid, but the public remains in the dark.
Complaint aside, I did find the mouse experiment extremely interesting as it showed how Lyme ‘completely disfigured’ the uterus, which would explain why so many infected women have difficulties with pregnancies.  Only ONE other study in the history of Lyme documented uterine infection.
This does show the extremely limited and biased approach to all things Lyme/MSIDS and it always amazes me that researchers literally have to stumble into this knowledge.
Blaming men is not the answer regarding the problems in research. The problem stems from conflicts of interest and corruption – with females just as culpable as males.
While gender differences might be interesting, even illuminating, there are far bigger fish to fry in the Lyme/MSIDS kitchen.
The article then switches gears into Long COVID, a contested term that has yet to be proven conclusively, yet accepted at face value by many.  The first thing that crosses my mind when I hear that “Long COVID” and Lyme have identical symptoms is, who’s to say it isn’t Lyme?  
Testing for both diseases is abysmal, and seriously comical if lives weren’t at stake.  Yet, testing by ‘the powers that be’ simply is and continues to be accepted and utilized.
The article then gives the hypothesis dichotomy:
  1. persistent pathogens drive ongoing symptoms
  2. the immune system remains in a faulty state – driving symptoms

Tal’s project uses AI which she hopes will allow her to predict who will go on to have persistent symptoms.  She has already learned that current Lyme tests only look at IgG and IgM – not IgE, which she describes as an immune system ‘air strike’ and that those with this type of immune reaction have been ignored in research.  She received $2 million to further test this hypothesis and she expects to publish findings as early as 2025.

And hold the press! – Tal states that at a conference the keynote speaker actually apologized for what he had written in the past about chronic Lyme after he got ‘Long COVID.’

Sadly, right after this, the article predictably blames ‘climate change’ for pushing ticks into new habitats – a notion refuted by independent research, as well as more and more climate scientists, and more and more data proving there is no ‘climate emergency,’ but how the media is using corrupt data to push a narrative pushed by the UN which is bankrolling politics under a ‘climate change’ narrative.  ‘Climate change’ is big, big business, and part of a much larger agenda which utilizes science and technology for ultimate control.

For more:

Category:

Lyme, research, Testing, Ticks, Viruses

HHS Releases Vector-borne Disease National Strategy

https://www.lymedisease.org/hhs-vector-borne-disease-strategy/

HHS releases vector-borne disease national strategy

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released the National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases in People (VBD National Strategy).

As directed by the 2019 Kay Hagan Tick Act—named after the U.S. Senator who died due to complications from a tickborne illness—HHS led a four-year process with civilian agencies and defense departments to deliver this strategy.

Co-led by the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the strategy identifies and describes federal priorities to detect, prevent, respond to, and control diseases and conditions caused by vectors in the United States.

This VBD National Strategy represents the largest formal federal coordination effort focused on vector-borne disease prevention and control with contributions by over 50 representatives across 17 federal agencies. This collaborative effort will help

  • Address the significant public health challenges related to vector-borne diseases;
  • Incorporate a One Health approach to enhance coordination and communication across human, animal, and environmental areas; and
  • Reverse the upward trends in illness, suffering, and death.

Growing Problem of Vector-Borne Diseases

Vectors—biting insects and arachnids like mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and lice—can spread germs that make people sick. These diseases are major causes of death and illness worldwide, and they increasingly threaten the health and well-being of people in the United States.

Diseases and conditions spread by vectors include Lyme disease, Zika virus, West Nile virus, dengue, malaria, plague, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and alpha-gal syndrome.

According to CDC, reported cases of these diseases doubled over the last two decades. Due to shifting land use patterns, global travel and trade, and a changing climate, the threat of existing and emerging vector-borne diseases continues to grow.

As geographic ranges of vectors expand, the number of pathogens spread by vectors continues to climb—yet only one vaccine is available to protect people against almost 20 domestic threats.

Goals of the Vector-Borne Disease National Strategy

The rising public health threat of vector-borne diseases requires a comprehensive and sustained national effort to protect people. In 2020, the U.S. government published a framework responding to this need, titled A National Public Health Framework for the Prevention and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases in Humans (Framework). A consortium expanded the Framework into this comprehensive strategy.

As stipulated in the Kay Hagan Tick Act, HHS and CDC consulted the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group while developing the interagency strategy. The strategy incorporates recommendations from the now sunset Working Group.

In addition to identifying challenges and opportunities to enhance the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases, the strategy lays out an ambitious national public health approach to develop diagnostics, drugs, and treatments for coexisting conditions. Although critical to public health and wellness, clinical and healthcare services, access to care, legal protections, and reimbursement or payment for clinical services are outside the scope of this strategy.

Implementing the VBD National Strategy

The federal government envisions a nation where vector-borne diseases no longer threaten the health and well-being of people. Agencies and departments are proactively working to protect people from illness, suffering, and death due to vector-borne diseases by

  • Better understanding when, where, and how people are exposed to and get sick or die;
  • Developing, evaluating, and improving tools, methods, and guidance to diagnose diseases and their pathogens;
  • Developing, evaluating, and improving tools, methods, and guidance to prevent and control disease;
  • Developing and assessing drugs and treatment strategies; and
  • Disseminating and implementing public health tools, programs, and collaborations to prevent, detect, diagnose, and respond to threats.

Federal Government to Develop New Approaches to the Threat

Vector-borne diseases are a global threat, with national security, economic, and health implications for the United States. As the federal government continues to proactively strengthen its response to this threat, HHS and CDC plan to develop future iterations of the VBD National Strategy with opportunities for public engagement.

Read the VBD National Strategy.

SOURCE: US Department of Health and Human Services

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**Comment**

It’s quite easy to see where this is going.

  1. They emphasize there’s only 1 vaccine. Vaccines are the only thing these people care about because they are big business and quite lucrative.
  2. Despite more and more experts defying the climate narrative, and proof that the entire paradigm is corrupt, and being used for a much bigger agenda, it is mentioned here because it too is big business and quite lucrative.
  3. While the article mentions diagnostics, drugs, and treatments for coexisting conditions – they won’t lift a finger regarding Lyme/MSIDS, unless it’s a vaccine.  No money in these other things.
  4. The buzz word of the day – ‘One Health’ has been hijacked by the corrupt WHO as an ultimate power grab, which would give them unlimited control over humans, animals, and the environment.
  5. Similarly to the completely unobtainable goal of a ZERO COVID policy, the federal government’s vision of a nation where vector-borne diseases no longer threaten the health and well-being of people is seriously a joke.
  6. The mention that vector borne diseases are a national security threat is code for: we are going to keep working on vector bioweapons.
Again, the only thing the HHS is going to release is a lot of hot air.

It is not going to do ONE thing to help the plight of Lyme/MSIDS patients. It will gladly spend even more of our tax-dollars to do yet more worthless research showing the same things they’ve been showing for 40 years.

Category:

Activism, Lyme, mosquitoes, Ticks, Transmission, Viruses

Lyme: Another Perfect Bioweapon

https://prepareforchange.net/2024/03/05/whistlebower-report-lyme-the-itsy-bitsy-tick-another-perfect-bioweapon/

Whistleblower Report – Lyme, the “Itsy Bitsy Tick”: Another Perfect Bioweapon

By Major Mike Gary and Elizabeth Lee Vliet MD

3/5/24

COVID is far from the first time our government agencies have been acting as mad scientists in taxpayer-funded bioresearch laboratories experimenting with dangerous pathogens.  In the 1970’s Army researchers were experimenting with pathogens at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center in Long Island Sound, when inadequate filtration maintenance resulted in an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) that led to the emergency killing and burning of more than 72,000 pounds of live cows, sheep, goats and other animals in just 48 hours. There was a massive cover-up at the time of the destruction of these animals and the disease outbreak.

Plum Island is the only location in the United States where research on the foot and mouth virus was legally permitted. While the virus is not fatal to humans, people who have come in contact with it can readily transmit it to animals, who become seriously debilitated and suffer lameness, fever, and painful vesicular lesions on the tongue, feet, snout, and teats. Although FMD does not result in high mortality in adult animals, the disease has debilitating effects, including weight loss, decrease in milk production, and loss of muscle strength and lameness, resulting in a loss in productivity for a considerable time. Mortality, however, can be high in young animals, where the virus can affect the heart. In addition, cattle, sheep, and goats can become carriers, and cattle can harbor virus for up to 2 to 3 years. Contaminated food, water and soil can also spread the disease.  (See link for article)

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SUMMARY:

  • FMD affects cloven-hoofed livestock and more than 70 species of wild animals including deer.
  • The disease was shown to be caused by a filterable agent in 1897 which ushered in the era of virology.
  • Outbreaks have occurred worldwide.
  • Lyme disease appeared in the same decade and same region as FMD.
  • FMD easily infects animals that in turn can infect ticks.
  • Lyme disease was initially thought to be caused by a virus, then a rickettsial helvetica called ‘Swiss Agent,’ then ultimately Borrelia burgdorferi or Lyme disease.
  • The book Lab 257 expresses a well-researched account of the mad science happening at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center. It also highlights whistle blower Merlon Wiggins’ documentation of dangerous lab practices. Merlon was persecuted and eventually removed from the lab as the Chief Engineer.
  • While the infamous lab claims it never performed research on Lyme, it also denied for decades that it performed biological warfare experiments until Newsday unearthed previously classified documents proving such experiments took place.  New York Times confirmed it as well.
  • Lyme is only one of four infectious disease outbreaks that have occurred by Plum Island.  Others were:
    • Dutch duck plague virus in the 1960’s
    • Lyme disease in 1975
    • FM outbreak in 1978 & two more outbreaks in 2004 – both at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center
    • West Nile virus in 1999
    • and the mysterious 1999 disease that killed most of the lobsters in Long Island Sound

For more:

Category:

Activism, Lyme, Ticks

The Dark Reality of Living With Lyme Disease

https://www.lymedisease.org/bredberg-dark-reality-lyme/

The dark reality of living with Lyme disease

By Kyle Bredberg

I have lived in New Paltz, New York, my whole life and throughout that time, have grown accustomed to many of the seemingly odd local rituals that our town performs.

One of these oddities is that in elementary school, New Paltz students learn to tuck their jeans into their socks, stuffing them full until their feet look like weird upside down sock puppets before departing on a field trip.

This is all part of the general awareness for ticks that the Hudson Valley strongly promotes to its residents. Students learn to buddy up and do tick checks and their noses often become normalized to the scent of DEET as parents worryingly spray down their clothes.  (See link for article)

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**Comment**

Bredberg admits that he became infected when tick awareness was nowhere near what it is today.  Similarly to others in Lymeland, despite severe hallmark symptoms all tests returned ‘negative.’

If it wasn’t for a relentless mother, he probably never would have gotten help.

Unfortunately he uses the wrong statistic that up to 20% go on to suffer long-term symptoms when in reality it’s somewhere between 40-60%. I also must disagree that ‘research, treatment, and awareness has come a long way from where it was 10 years ago.’

Despite climbing numbers, we are no further along in understanding why some develop chronic Lyme/MSIDS and others don’t, and how to effectively treat it.

While awareness efforts have increased, this is entirely due to sick people who have done what they can in their sphere of influence.

For more:

Sadly, the stories are plentiful, but nothing changes in the world of Lyme/MSIDS.

Category:

Activism, Lyme, Prevention, Testing, Ticks

Deadly Meat Allergy

http://

Deadly Meat Allergy

A man suddenly has a cardiac arrest at home and the cause of his medical emergency is a mystery! Let’s solve the mystery together and learn about shock, septic shock, anaphylactic allergies and more!  Scroll to about the 14 minute mark to finally hear he has Alpha Gal.

This video was adapted from a published medical case report: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti…

For more:

It’s far from straight-forward just like Lyme/MSIDS.  So many unknowns.
 

 

Category:

Activism, Alpha Gal Meat Allergy, Gut Health, research, Testing, Ticks