VACo: Loudoun Lyme Program ‘Model for Other Counties’

A high rate of Lyme disease, a lack of awareness about it and division within the medical community about its seriousness prompted the Loudoun Board of Supervisors to take action against the disease in 2012.

The board approved a 10-point action plan to reduce the impact of Lyme in Loudoun, and this week the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) presented the county with a 2013 Achievement Award for the program.

Erik Johnston, VACo’s director of government affairs, called Loudoun Targets Lyme an “innovative program that can serve as a model for other counties.”

As part of the Loudoun board’s actions, it created the Loudoun Lyme Disease Commission, which in turn developed the “Loudoun Targets Lyme” program.

The Lyme Disease Commission, the Loudoun Health Department, businesses, non-profit organizations and citizens focused on reducing the impact of Lyme disease in the county have all participated. Find more information is online at www.loudoun.gov/loudountargetslyme.