The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced several actions that will be taken to address Lyme disease. They hope to lower cases by 25% in the next decade.

The campaign will also cover other tick-borne illnesses and involve a largely funded pilot program. Through the program, HHS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and tick-control experts will discuss and test ways to remove ticks on wildlife.

Furthermore, a partnership between companies and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is working to shield tick bite victims from developing Alpha-gal syndrome by getting effective products out.

Additional aspects of this campaign include:

• New LymeX innovation challenges that will provide “up to $2.5 million in total prize funding to accelerate breakthroughs in public awareness, treatment, and patient care.”
• A $10 million Diagnostics Prize to enhance Lyme Disease testing
• A partnership between HHS and the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS)
• The reauthorization of the bipartisan Kay-Hagan Tick Act