IPM Tick Academy in September

August 5, 2021

Tick IPM Working Group Presenting Second Annual Tick Academy

IPM tick academyThe Tick IPM Working Group is presenting the second annual Tick Academy, September 13-15, 2021 from 10 AM until 2 PM each day.

The Tick Academy is the premier event for educators, students, researchers, pest control professionals, public health professionals, public-space managers, and citizen scientists, who want to learn more about what they can do to stop the spread of ticks and tickborne diseases in their respective communities.

The event will take place virtually and will feature twelve presentations over three, four-hour sessions during which the presenters will share the latest information about:

  • tick management
  • tickborne disease prevention
  • recent discoveries of emerging pathogens
  • public perceptions of risk, diversity, identification of ticks
  • ongoing research on control and vaccine developments

For more details, please view the Tick Academy Announcement Flyer.

To register for this virtual event, click the registration link at the bottom of the flyer or visit tickacademy.brownpapertickets.com.

For more IPM information: IPM Pest Alert-Asian longhorned tick

Category:

Activism, Prevention, research, Ticks, vaccines

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Leaked Pfizer Indemnification Agreement Forces Countries to Put up Sovereign Assets, Bank Reserves, Military Bases & Embassy Buildings As Collateral For Expected Vaccine Injury Lawsuits – Admit Safety and Efficacy of COVID Injections Are Unknown

August 4, 2021

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2021/08/03/pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-indemnification-agreement

Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine Indemnification Agreement

Analysis by Dr. Joseph MercolaFact Checked
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine indemnification agreement

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

  • A leaked document broken down by Twitter user Ehden reveals the shocking terms of Pfizer’s international COVID-19 vaccine agreements
  • Countries that purchase Pfizer’s COVID-19 shot must acknowledge that “Pfizer’s efforts to develop and manufacture the Product” are “subject to significant risks and uncertainties”
  • In the event that a drug or other treatment comes out that can prevent, treat or cure COVID-19, the agreement stands, and the country must follow through with their vaccine order
  • While COVID-19 vaccines are “free” to receive in the U.S., they’re being paid for by taxpayer dollars at a rate of $19.50 per dose; Albania, the leaked contract revealed, paid $12 per dose
  • The purchaser of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine must also acknowledge two facts that have largely been brushed under the rug: both their efficacy and risks are unknown
  • Purchasers must also “indemnify, defend and hold harmless Pfizer … from and against any and all suits, claims, actions, demands, losses, damages, liabilities, settlements, penalties, fines, costs and expenses … arising out of, relating to, or resulting from the Vaccine”

Vaccine makers have nothing to lose by marketing their experimental COVID-19 shots, even if they cause serious injury and death, as they enjoy full indemnity against injuries occurring from COVID-19 vaccines or any other pandemic vaccine under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act, passed in the U.S. in 2005.

The full extent of their COVID-19 vaccine indemnification agreements with countries, however, is a closely guarded secret, one that has remained highly confidential — until now. A leaked document broken down by Twitter user Ehden reveals the shocking terms of Pfizer’s international COVID-19 vaccine agreements.1

“These agreements are confidential, but luckily one country did not protect the contract document well enough, so I managed to get a hold of a copy,” he wrote. “As you are about to see, there is a good reason why Pfizer was fighting to hide the details of these contracts.”2

An Ironclad Agreement, All on Pfizer’s Terms

The alleged indemnification agreement, reportedly between Pfizer and Albania, was originally posted in snippets on Twitter, but Twitter now has them marked as “unavailable.” Copies of the tweets are available on Threadreader,3 however.

The Albania agreement4 appears very similar to another contract, published online, between Pfizer and the Dominican Republic.5 It covers not only COVID-19 vaccines, but any product that enhances the use or effects of such vaccines.

Countries that purchase Pfizer’s COVID-19 shot must acknowledge that “Pfizer’s efforts to develop and manufacture the Product” are “subject to significant risks and uncertainties.”6

And in the event that a drug or other treatment comes out that can prevent, treat or cure COVID-19, the agreement stands, and the country must follow through with their order. Ivermectin, for instance, is not only safe, inexpensive and widely available but has been found to reduce COVID-19 mortality by 81%.7 Yet, it continues to be ignored in favor of more expensive, and less effective, treatments and mass experimental vaccination.

“If you were wondering why #Ivermectin was suppressed,” Ehden wrote, “well, it is because the agreement that countries had with Pfizer does not allow them to escape their contract, which states that even if a drug will be found to treat COVID19 the contract cannot be voided.”8

Even if Pfizer fails to deliver vaccine doses within their estimated delivery period, the purchaser may not cancel the order. Further, Pfizer can make adjustments to the number of contracted doses and their delivery schedule, “based on principles to be determined by Pfizer,” and the country buying the vaccines must “agree to any revision.”9

It doesn’t matter if the vaccines are delivered severely late, even at a point when they’re no longer needed, as it’s made clear that “Under no circumstances will Pfizer be subject to or liable for any late delivery penalties.”10 As you might suspect, the contract also forbids returns “under any circumstances.”

The Big Secret: Pfizer Charged US More Than Other Countries

While COVID-19 vaccines are “free” to receive in the U.S., they’re being paid for by taxpayer dollars at a rate of $19.5011 per dose. Albania, the leaked contract revealed, paid $12 per dose,12 while the EU paid $14.70 per shot.13 While charging different prices to different purchases is common in the drug industry, it’s often frowned upon.

In the case of the price disparity between the U.S. and the EU, Pfizer is said to have given a price break to the EU because it financially supported the development of their COVID-19 vaccine.14 Still, Ehden noted, “U.S. taxpayers got screwed by Pfizer, probably also Israel.”15 Also, Pfizer makes a point to note that countries have no right to withhold payment to the company for any reason.16

Apparently, this includes in the case of receiving damaged goods. Purchasers of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines are not entitled to reject them “based on service complaints,” unless they do not conform to specifications or the FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations.17 And, Ehden adds, “This agreement is above any local law of the state.”18

While the purchaser has virtually no way of canceling the contract, Pfizer can terminate the agreement in the event of a “material breach” of any term in their contract.

Safety and Efficacy ‘Not Currently Known’

The purchaser of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine must also acknowledge two facts that have largely been brushed under the rug: Both their efficacy and risks are unknown. According to section 5.5 of the contract:19

“Purchaser acknowledges that the Vaccine and materials related to the Vaccine, and their components and constituent materials are being rapidly developed due to the emergency circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to be studied after provision of the Vaccine to Purchaser under this Agreement.

Purchaser further acknowledges that the long-term effects and efficacy of the Vaccine are not currently known and that there may be adverse effects of the Vaccine that are not currently known.”

Indemnification by the purchaser is also explicitly required by the contract, which states, under section 8.1:20

“Purchaser hereby agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Pfizer, BioNTech, each of their Affiliates, contractors, sub-contractors, licensors, licensees, sub-licensees, distributors, contract manufacturers, services providers, clinical trial researchers, third parties to whom Pfizer or BioNTech or any of their respective Affiliates may directly or indirectly owe an indemnity based on the research …

from and against any and all suits, claims, actions, demands, losses, damages, liabilities, settlements, penalties, fines, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and other expenses of an investigation or litigation … arising out of, relating to, or resulting from the Vaccine …”

Meanwhile, the purchaser must also keep the terms of the contract confidential for a period 10 years.21

Purchasers Must Protect and Defend Pfizer

Not only does Pfizer have total indemnification, but there’s also a section in the contract titled, “Assumption of Defense by Purchaser,” which states that in the event Pfizer suffers losses for which it is seeking indemnification, the purchaser “shall promptly assume conduct and control of the defense of such Indemnified Claims on behalf of the Indemnitee with counsel acceptable to Indemnitee(s), whether or not the Indemnified Claim is rightfully brought.” Ehden notes:22

“Pfizer is making sure the country will pay for everything: ‘Costs and expenses, including … fees and disbursements of counsel, incurred by the Indemnitee(s) in connection with any Indemnified Claim shall be reimbursed on a quarterly basis by Purchaser.’”

Buried in the March 17, 2020, Federal Register — the daily journal of the U.S. government — in a document titled, “Declaration Under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act for Medical Countermeasures Against COVID-19,”23 is language that establishes a new COVID-19 vaccine court — similar to the federal vaccine court that already exists.

In the U.S., vaccine makers already enjoy full indemnity against injuries occurring from this or any other pandemic vaccine under the PREP Act. If you’re injured by a COVID vaccine (or a select group of other vaccines designated under the act), you’d have to file a compensation claim with the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP),24 which is funded by U.S. taxpayers via Congressional appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

While similar to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP), which applies to nonpandemic vaccines, the CICP is even less generous when it comes to compensation. As reported by Dr. Meryl Nass,25 the maximum payout you can receive — even in cases of permanent disability or death — is $250,000 per person; however, you’d have to exhaust your private insurance policy before the CICP gives you a dime.

The CICP also has a one-year statute of limitations, so you have to act quickly, which is also difficult since it’s unknown if long-term effects could occur more than a year later.

Pfizer Accused of Abuse of Power

As is apparent in Pfizer’s confidential contract with Albania, the drug giant wants governments to guarantee the company will be compensated for any expenses resulting from injury lawsuits against it.

Pfizer has also demanded that countries put up sovereign assets, including bank reserves, military bases and embassy buildings, as collateral for expected vaccine injury lawsuits resulting from its COVID-19 inoculation.26

New Delhi-based World Is One News (WION) reported in February 2021 that Brazil rejected Pfizer’s demands, calling them “abusive.” The demands included that Brazil:27

  1. “Waives sovereignty of its assets abroad in favor of Pfizer”
  2. Not apply its domestic laws to the company
  3. Not penalize Pfizer for vaccine delivery delays
  4. Exempt Pfizer from all civil liability for side effects

STAT News also referred to concerns by legal experts, who also suggested Pfizer’s demands were an abuse of power. Mark Eccleston-Turner, a lecturer in global health law at Keele University in England, told STAT:28

“[Pfizer] is trying to eke out as much profit and minimize its risk at every juncture with this vaccine development then this vaccine rollout. Now, the vaccine development has been heavily subsidized already. So there’s very minimal risk for the manufacturer involved there.”

Signs of COVID Vaccine Failure, Adverse Effects Rise

Pfizer continues to sign lucrative secret vaccine deals across the globe. In June 2021, they signed one of their biggest contracts to date — with the Philippine government for 40 million doses.29

Meanwhile, COVID-19 “breakthrough cases,” which used to be called vaccine failures, are on the rise. According to the U.S. CDC, as of July 19, 2021, 5,914 people who had been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 were hospitalized or died from COVID-19.30

In the U.K., as of July 15, 87.5% of the adult population had received one dose31 of COVID-19 vaccine and 67.1% had received two. Yet, symptomatic cases among partially and fully vaccinated are on the rise, with an average of 15,537 new infections a day being detected, a 40% increase from the week before.32

In a July 19 report from the CDC, the agency also reported that the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) had received 12,313 reports of death among people who received a COVID-19 vaccine33 — more than doubling from the 6,079 reports of death from the week before.

Soon after the report, however, they reverted the number to the 6,079 from the week before, indicating by default that no deaths from the vaccine had occurred that week,34 raising serious questions about transparency and vaccine safety.

Many other adverse events are also appearing, ranging from risks from the biologically active SARS-CoV-2 spike protein used in the vaccine to blood clots, reproductive toxicity35 and myocarditis (heart inflammation).36 As you can see in the confidential indemnification agreements, however, even if the vaccine turns out to be a dismal failure — and a risk to short- and long-term health — countries have no recourse, nor does anyone who received the experimental shots.

One question that we should all be asking is this: If the COVID-19 vaccines are, in fact, as safe and effective as the manufacturers claim, why do they require this level of indemnification?

**Comment**

Well now, this explains some things, doesn’t it?

For a newstory on this:

http://

Feb. 24, 2021

Gravitas: Pfizer’s Abusive Vaccine Deals

Pfizer has become a terror. The US pharma company is reportedly asking for military bases and sovereign assets as guarantee for vaccines. WION’s Palki Sharma has the details.

This is why Dr. Mercola, along with 11 other individuals are being maligned, censored, and threatened.  “The powers that be’ are bullying anyone who makes inconvenient information available to the public for scrutiny.  Just today, Dr. Mercola announced that due to death threats and the current administration’s pressure, he is deleting his entire archive of articles in 48 hours.

These will be removed to appease the individuals in power who have an arsenal of overwhelming tools at their disposal, and are actively engaged in using them. COVID-19 has activated and authorized emergency powers that have weakened our constitutional rights. Sadly, cyberwarfare and authoritarian forces are beyond our abilities to withstand, and this is now our only way forward.

Over 15,000 articles full of vital information that has helped tens of millions across the world take control of their health, will be removed. There was a time when people could debate and respect each other freely. That time is now gone. I believe laws are best applied like medicine – locally and specifically….

I can deal with the CNN crews that chase me by car while I bicycle from my home. I feel sorry for the people in media that have to follow the orders they are given.

It is easy to dismiss the media pawns, but the most powerful individual on the planet has targeted me as his primary obstacle that must be removed. Every three letter agency is at his disposal, and the executive powers have grown beyond what an individual American’s rights can protect against.

A dissenter of medical mandates is now a target and obstacle to be removed. I know – that’s 25 years’ worth of blood, sweat and tears coming down.  Dr. Mercola

This is truly a shame as yours truly has benefitted greatly over decades from this FREE information.  We are in a very dark place in U.S. history.  Do what you can in your sphere of influence to educate others.

Further, an article just came out stating that “spreading false vax info might cost you your medical license.”  Hopefully you can see where this is going. Just reflect upon Lyme/MSIDS for a moment on how there are two completely different viewpoints that have held for over 40 years, one of which continues to keep people from being diagnosed and treated.

For more:

THE PFIZER MRNA VACCINE CLINICAL TRIAL STUDY DESIGN WARNS AGAINST PROXIMITY (SHARED AIR INHALATION OR SKIN CONTACT) BETWEEN VACCINE PARTICIPANTS AND THE UNVACCINATED AS A POSSIBLE VECTOR OF HARM

Titled, “A Phase 1/2/3 Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy of RNA Vaccine Candidates Against COVID-19 in Healthy Individuals,” the Pfizer Covid-19 mRNA vaccine study protocol document explicitly identifies in section 8.3.5. the need for monitoring what it calls “Exposure During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding, and Occupational Exposure.” A concern they take seriously enough that they require any incident to be reported within 24 hours to the Pfizer Safety system.

According to the document an EDP [environmental exposure during pregnancy] occurs if, for example: “a male vaccine recipient exposes a female partner prior to or around the time of conception.”

Exposure to the study intervention is defined as “inhalation or skin contact,” indicating that physical proximity between the vaccinated and unvaccinated is recognized by the Pfizer study protocol to be a cause for concern for transmission of potential side effects of the vaccine.

The document also gives the following example of an EDP scenario: “A male family member or healthcare provider who has been exposed to the study intervention by inhalation or skin contact then exposes his female partner prior to or around the time of conception.” Clearly, in this case Pfizer is acknowledging that something as simple as a healthcare provider or family member who has been exposed to an mRNA vaccine recipient through “inhalation or skin contact” (i.e. physical proximity) could generate an adverse event and/or affect the study outcomes.

Another example provided in section 8.3.5.2 titled, “Exposure During Breastfeeding,” gives the following example of what constitutes such an exposure:

“ An example of environmental exposure during breastfeeding is a female family member or healthcare provider who reports that she is breastfeeding after having been exposed to the study intervention by inhalation or skin contact.”

Finally, in section 8.3.5.3., an “Occupational Exposure” occurs,

“when a person receives unplanned direct contact with the study intervention, which may or may not lead to the occurrence of an AE. Such persons may include healthcare providers, family members, and other roles that are involved in the trial participant’s care.” 

Clearly, the Pfizer mRNA vaccine protocol design reveals that concerns for how the vaccinated may adversely affect the health, and even reproductive outcomes, of the unvaccinated simply by being within physical proximity.

Category:

Activism, vaccines, Viruses

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‘Stop The Shot – The Rest of the Story’ Conference Today (Aug. 4, 2021)

https://www.lifesitenews.com/conference-stop-the-shot/  Go here for Conference

‘Stop the Shot… The Rest of the Story’ Conference on August 4

To watch the presentation, simply come back to this page on August 4.

LifeSite will be hosting a townhall conference with The Truth For Health Foundation, “Stop the Shot… The Rest of the Story.” This online meeting will feature:

  • Dr. Peter McCullough
  • Attorney Thomas Renz
  • Dr. Michael Yeadon
  • Sister Deidre Byrne
  • Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet
  • Dr. Jose Trasancos 
  • and other prominent physicians, scientists, attorneys, and religious leaders who will be discussing vital information related to the COVID jab, clinical trials, and more

Scheduled for Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at 12pm Eastern.

To watch the presentation, simply click on top link.  To have the opportunity to ask the presenters a question following the presentation, please RSVP to the email below.

Here’s a brief look at what will be shared at this online meeting:

  • Breaking information will be shared by the lead attorney in U.S. suit against the Biden regime’s HHS regarding VAERS, adverse events, under-reporting deaths, and injuries. This presentation will also include an update on the CDC Whistleblower affidavit, which indicates more than 45,000 actual deaths have taken place following the COVID shot, verses the VAERS reports of only 11,000.
  • Previously undisclosed data from both Pharma-clinical trials and subsequent additional studies on the COVID jab related to specific, serious, immediate, and long-term impacts on fertility in both men and women.
  • Updates on international medical studies regarding actual vaccine immunity verses what has been reported to the public by the media.
  • Breaking information regarding international lawsuits and theological implications related to the latest COVID news around the world.

**In order to have the opportunity to ask questions after the conference, please email Info@TruthforHealth.org to receive the conference call link. We ask that only serious individuals RSVP as space is limited on the post presentation Q&A conference call.

Learn more about the truth about COVID, the jab, and masks here.

For more:

And for a list of mounting list of adverse reactions and deaths reported after COVID injections:  BETWEEN DEC. 14, 2020 AND JUNE 30, 2023, THE FOLLOWING WERE REPORTED TO VAERS:

  • 1,537,131 WERE REPORTED TO VAERS, INCLUDING 
  • 35,267 DEATHS
  • 66,476 PERMANENT DISABILITIES
  • 202,684 HOSPITALIZATIONS
  • WHISTLEBLOWERS WITHIN THE CDC STATE THE TRUE NUMBER OF DEATHS IS OVER 50,000.  SOURCE.  A LAWSUIT IS UNDERWAY.

By comparison, during the same time period VAERS received reports of 83 deaths following flu vaccines.

COVID INJECTIONS PRODUCE ‘TOXIC’ EFFECTS, BRITISH RESEARCHERS CALL ON GOVERNMENTS TO ‘HALT USE IMMEDIATELY’.

Category:

Activism, vaccines, Viruses

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Doctors Warn CDC, “It’s Not All COVID” And Anchoring Bias is Causing Doctors To Miss Tick-Borne Infections

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/8/21-1107_article

Volume 27, Number 8—August 2021
Research Letter

COVID-19 and the Consequences of Anchoring Bias

Harold W. HorowitzComments to Author , Caren Behar, and Jeffrey Greene
Author affiliations: Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA (H.W. Horowitz); New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, USA (H.W. Horowitz); New York University Langone School of Medicine, New York (C. Behar, J. Greene)

Abstract

Suspicion of coronavirus disease in febrile patients might lead to anchoring bias, causing misdiagnosis of other infections for which epidemiologic risks are present. This bias has potentially severe consequences, illustrated by cases of human granulocytic anaplasmosis and Lyme disease in a pregnant woman and human granulocytic anaplasmosis in another person.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) took the United States by force during the first quarter of 2020, affecting the economy, societal norms, and the delivery of medical care (1,2). As fear of COVID-19 has spread, diagnosing COVID-19 in febrile persons has been prioritized, and patients may be presumed to have COVID-19 pending results of testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This mindset has had unintended consequences, including delaying of evaluations for other infectious diseases, potentially leading to adverse outcomes. We describe 2 cases that illustrate this point.

In the first case, a 35-year-old man left New York, New York, USA, to go hiking in Maryland during June 5–June 7, 2020. He experienced fever, body aches, and fatigue during June 10–13 that resolved but left him fatigued and weak. He was seen on June 19; laboratory results were unremarkable, but lymphopenia was detected. He tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 on June 19 and June 25 by PCR. On June 25, ELISA for Lyme disease was positive, and reflex to Western blot revealed IgM 41-kD, 39-kD, and 23-kD bands but no IgG bands. Fever up to 38°C recurred on June 22 and lasted until June 29; he also experienced persistent fatigue and myalgia. Further testing on July 6 revealed serologic results for Lyme similar to results from June 25 and Anaplasma phagocytophilum titers of IgM 1:320 and IgG 1:1260. Anaplasma PCR was negative on that date. He was treated with doxycycline for 10 days and recovered.

In the second case, a 31-year-old woman who was 6 months pregnant left New York at the end of May 2020 to rent a house in Ulster County, New York. On June 3, she removed a tick from her neck. On June 9, she experienced severe headaches and the next day had low-grade fever, chills, and body aches. She had no cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat. On June 10, she tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR. She continued to have extreme fatigue, myalgia, and low-grade fever. She was prescribed oseltamivir by her obstetrician on June 11. On June 14, she felt better. Repeat PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 on June 15 was negative. She continued to improve until June 23, when she experienced recurrent fever up to 38.9°C, chills, and lethargy. She contacted her obstetrician and was told she had a presumptive diagnosis of COVID-19. On June 30, she saw her internist and underwent laboratory testing for tickborne illnesses; she was treated empirically with amoxicillin because of her risks for Lyme disease. PCR for A. phagocytophilum was positive, as was a second test on July 8. Serologic results for Lyme were positive for 41-kD, 39-kD, and 23-kD bands with no IgG bands. Platelets were 140,000 (previously 336,000), aspartate aminotransferase was 95, and alanine aminotransferase was 81. Several weeks later, studies revealed anaplasma IgM 1:256 and IgG 1:1,280. Lyme disease C6 antibody was positive. After discussion, the patient and her physicians chose not to treat for anaplasmosis because she was clinically improving. The patient has remained well, and the child was born healthy by normal spontaneous vaginal delivery.

COVID-19 has had devastating effects on the medical system and led to widespread changes in the practice of medicine. We believe that the imperative to rule out COVID-19 led to diagnostic anchoring bias in these cases. Such biases are among the most common in the heuristic decision-making process (3,4). Of note, in these 2 cases (case 1, human granulocytic anaplasmosis [HGA]; case 2, co-infection with Lyme disease and HGA), COVID-19 was ruled out without considering other diagnoses, even though the patients were visiting areas to which tickborne diseases are endemic. Given the incidence of such diseases in these areas and widespread attempts to educate healthcare providers about these diseases, failure to evaluate for tickborne infections would be difficult to imagine before COVID-19. Although both of these patients have done well, serious consequences to the fetus could have occurred if Lyme disease had gone undiagnosed and untreated (5). Although transmission of A. phagocytophilum during pregnancy has been reported (6) and treatment during pregnancy in a limited number of cases has possibly prevented transmission (7), in this instance the patient cleared the anaplasma without treatment, and the child was born disease-free. Clearance of infection without treatment has been reported in other studies, but we are unaware of cases describing the outcome of pregnancy in untreated women with acute HGA (8).

We appreciate the devastating effects that a missed COVID-19 diagnosis can have on a person, as well as the epidemiologic implications thereof. However, failing to diagnose tickborne illnesses and other infections also can have serious consequences. Healthcare providers must keep an open mind to diagnoses other than COVID-19 in febrile patients and not fall prey to misdiagnosis because of current pressures to evaluate for COVID-19.

Dr. Horowitz is clinical professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and chief of infectious diseases at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. He has been involved in clinical practice for the past 38 years, and his research has focused on immune-suppressed patients, tickborne diseases, and, more recently, antimicrobial stewardship and hospital-acquired infections.

References

  1. CDC. COVID-19 Response Team. Severe outcomes among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)—United States, February 12–March 16, 2020. MMWR Morb Wkly Rep. 2020;69:343–6.
  2. Hollander  JE, Carr  BG. Virtually Perfect? Telemedicine for Covid-19. N Engl J Med. 2020;382:1679–81. DOIExternal LinkPubMedExternal Link
  3. Sapersnik  G, Redelmeier  D, Ruff  CC, et a. Cognitive biases associated with medical decisions: a systematic review. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2016;16:138. DOIExternal LinkPubMedExternal Link
  4. Ogdie  AR, Reilly  JB, Pang  WG, Keddem  S, Barg  FK, Von Feldt  JM, et al. Seen through their eyes: residents’ reflections on the cognitive and contextual components of diagnostic errors in medicine. Acad Med. 2012;87:1361–7. DOIExternal LinkPubMedExternal Link
  5. Waddell  LA, Greig  J, Lindsay  LR, Hinckley  AF, Ogden  NH. A systematic review on the impact of gestational Lyme disease in humans on the fetus and newborn. PLoS One. 2018;13:e0207067. DOIExternal LinkPubMedExternal Link
  6. Horowitz  HW, Kilchevski  E, Haber  S, et al. Brief report: Perinatal transmission of the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis agent. N Engl J Med. 1998;339:375–8. DOIExternal LinkPubMedExternal Link
  7. Dhand  A, Nadelman  RB, Aguero-Rosenfeld  ME, Haddad  F, Stokes  D, Horowitz  HW. Human granulocytic anaplasmosis in pregnancy: case series and review of literature. Clin Infect Dis. 2007;45:589–93. DOIExternal LinkPubMedExternal Link
  8. Bakken  JS, Haller  I, Riddell  D, Walls  JJ, Dumler  JS. The serological response of patients infected with the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis. Clin Infect Dis. 2002;34:22–7. DOIExternal LinkPubMedExternal Link

DOI: 10.3201/eid2708.211107

Original Publication Date: July 01, 2021

Category:

Anaplasmosis, Lyme, research

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Maryland Health Department Warns Doctors About Lyme Disease

In a letter to physicians, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) warns doctors to pay attention to Lyme which is the most frequently diagnosed tick-borne disease (TBD) in Maryland residents (1400 cases 2019). The MDH also cautions them to report other TBDs, which it specifically names. The letter also points out the similarities of Lyme symptoms to COVID-19 symptoms and reminds providers of obligation to report the required TBDs.

Tick bite prevention tips are offered, and a Maryland Tick Identification Service is provided in the letter.  https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/OIDEOR/CZVBD/Pages/Tick-Identification.aspx

Read full letter here  

Category:

Lyme, Prevention, Ticks

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