Here is a report of a lawsuit from 1999 from one of the Lyme forums. In South Africa the Department of Health still tell me that a person cannot get Lyme disease in South Africa... I did !! and I wonder how many more people have been bitten by a tick in this beautiful country and are walking aorund with a mis-diagnosis as a result of this attitude. The Department will not even engage with with to consider the possibility / consequences.
I 'knew' in 1996 that I had Lyme disease as a result of personal research on the intenet. I told my GP this and he said IMPOSSIBLE - Lyme is ONLY in the US... !! I recall saying to him well maybe it goes by another name here - to which I got a blank stare. No blood tests were ever done and I started the downward spiral to ill health from then until February 2010 when I was diagnosed with Ricketsia, Mycoplasma, Q Fever and Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi).
I wonder if I could lay claim to sonthing like this? Not likely!! since the mighty Department of Heath in South Africa deny the existence of Lyme on our land... !!
The low reported incidence of Lyme disease in South Africa is likely due to Lack of Awareness and of any Research Effort. The SA Dept of Health / Infectious Diseases do not believe that a person can be infected with Lyme disease from a tick bite in South Africa. Nor do most doctors. Have you visited many doctors and still have no idea what is wrong with your health? May this blog help you in your search for better health. NB THIS BLOG IS NOT INTENDED AS MEDICAL ADVICE / MEDICAL RECOMMENDATION