Tick-borne illnesses represent one of the most devastating and preventable threats to public health in New Hampshire, capable of inflicting lifelong injuries if left unchecked. Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and other tick-borne conditions are surging across our state, and the response from government at every level has been woefully inadequate.
New Hampshire consistently ranks among the highest states for tick-borne disease incidence. Our forests, fields, and backyards, the very places that define our way of life, have become danger zones. Children playing outside, hikers enjoying our trails, hunters, farmers, and landscapers all face elevated risk every single day.
The consequences of infection can be severe and lifelong: chronic joint pain, neurological complications, cardiac problems, and debilitating fatigue that can rob people of their ability to work and enjoy life. Misdiagnosis is rampant, treatment options are limited, and insurance coverage for long-term Lyme treatment remains a battle for many patients.
My comprehensive plan addresses this crisis on multiple fronts: significantly increased federal funding for tick-borne disease research, improved diagnostic tools and treatment protocols, public awareness campaigns targeted at high-incidence states like New Hampshire, support for integrated pest management programs to reduce tick populations, and legislation to ensure insurance coverage for chronic Lyme disease treatment.
This issue is deeply personal to many New Hampshire families, including in my own community. It’s a solvable problem that has been ignored for too long. I’m committed to making it a priority in Congress.