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Each year, over 450, 000 Lyme disease diagnoses are estimated to occur in the United States, and current preventive measures have been insufficient to stem the rising incidence. An effective human Lyme disease vaccine could be a powerful intervention for population-level impact. In advance of new Lyme disease vaccines coming to market, this study explored barriers to acceptability and motivations for the uptake of a new Lyme disease vaccine. Researchers conducted 9 online focus groups among consumers who may potentially benefit from the vaccine and 30 in-depth interviews among clinician groups who may provide the vaccine. All participants were recruited from three US regions of high Lyme disease incidence. Researchers found that participants shared common motivators to either recommend (clinicians) or accept (consumers) a Lyme disease vaccine, largely driven by perceived benefits of the vaccine, the lack of current effective preventive measures and a greater peace of mind. The concern about the challenges associated with diagnosing and treating Lyme disease is a primary motivator for clinicians to recommend the vaccine, while the concern about getting Lyme disease is a primary motivator for consumers to desire the vaccine. more...

As demonstrated by recent media reports concerning the Australian Public Service Social Media Policy and the Australian Rugby Union's dispute with Israel Folau, social media often blurs the line between our professional and personal lives, and means that employers want to control what we do and say on social media. This is an issue which directly affects Australian teachers, whose professional obligations have always extended beyond their immediate work environments. Does social media mean that teachers are never 'off the clock'? This article examines the current law relating to control of teacher behaviour and comment on social media. It analyses the implied freedom of political communication discussed in the 2019 High Court decision of "Comcare v Banerji," and its ramifications for teachers and their employers. Additionally, using case studies involving social media policies of authorities which control teacher professional conduct, it considers whether such policies constitute lawful and reasonable directions, or whether they could be challenged as infringing teachers' rights to a personal life. more...

Background Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States; however, its frequency is not reliably measured through surveillance. Electronic health records (EHR) might capture the frequency and characteristics of Lyme disease cases more accurately. We queried EHR from 1 health system to describe the epidemiology of Lyme disease cases in Wisconsin during 2016–2019. Methods Within a cohort of persons evaluated for Lyme disease, we applied a Lyme disease case definition based on first-line antibiotics within 14 days of a Lyme disease diagnosis code or test order or on the same day as a related keyword in clinical notes. We compared characteristics of cases to those of cases reported through surveillance and reviewed medical charts to assess case definition validity. Results Among 67 289 possible Lyme disease events in the cohort, 13 494 (20.1%) met our Lyme disease case definition. Cases were more common among males, children 5–9 years, older adults, White non-Hispanic persons, and in the summer months. EHR-based Lyme disease incidence was 4–8 times that reported through surveillance. The EHR definition had moderately high sensitivity (83.4%) and specificity (71.1%) for confirmed and probable Lyme disease. Conclusions EHR queries show promise to capture the incidence of Lyme disease more completely and provide more robust clinical information than public health surveillance. Demographic and seasonal characteristics of EHR-identified cases were comparable to those identified through surveillance. Further algorithm refinement might improve accuracy of measuring Lyme disease in EHR systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Lyme disease is a bacterial illness caused primarily by infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted by the bite of infected Ixodes scapularis and I. pacificus ticks in the United States. Early [...] more...

Lyme disease is an emerging zoonosis caused by the spirochete bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted between vertebrate hosts, including humans, by ticks in the Ixodes ricinus complex. Annual cases [...] more...