Legislation that authorizes physicians to prescribe long-term antibiotic therapy to a patient with symptoms of chronic Lyme disease has passed the New York State Assembly.
Democratic Assemblymember Didi Barrett, whose district includes portions of Columbia and Dutchess Counties, authored the legislation that she says passed unanimously. In the state Senate, Democrat Terry Gipson, whose district includes most of Dutchess, is the sponsor of the same bill. Barrett recently authored and passed a resolution proclaiming this May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Meanwhile, the Dutchess County Legislature Tick Task Force commissioned to study tick control and Lyme disease prevention will host a forum Wednesday morning in Pleasant Valley on how to reduce exposure to ticks and the chances of contracting Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.
