Bendigo Lyme disease warning

Kristy Dean said she knows of at least three people who have been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease in Bendigo.

While many state governments say there is little evidence Lymed disease is in Australia, the federal government recently established a Clinical Advisory Committee to establish whether it is.

In the meantime, Ms Dean is on a crusade to try and get Lyme disease recognised, even sponsoring a race at a Bendigo greyhounds meet last month.

Ms Dean said people who have been chronically sick for a while with no diagnosis often find out they have Lyme disease. 

The only way to confirm it is to send blood to be tested in the United States, and then import medication.

“The medication is not government-funded in Australia and has to be ordered from America,” Ms Dean said. “It’s very expensive. I know people who have lost jobs because of it. 

“I also know another woman who had to sell her house because she couldn’t afford the treatment for her daughter any other way.”

Ms Dean said it was a debilitating disease which had many symptoms, making it hard to diagnose.

“It attacks anything it wants to attack. You get bitten then it gets worse and worse until you find out you have it and you are treated.”

Ms Dean said she wants to help people who are unwell but do not know what they have.

“Someone in Bendigo may have it. If you get treatment you can live a good life. If I can get this message out and help someone who has these symptoms before it’s too late, it’ll be worth it.”