Post by lydski on Apr 2, 2007 16:26:04 GMT -5
Hi Pez-
Nice letter!
I've been meaning to post the reply I received from KY Senator Jim Bunning last week. At first I thought it was just the original form reply that all senators received, but I think it may be a liitle different. See what yall think....
Dear Senator Bunning:
I am responding to your letter to Mr. Donald Shriber on behalf of your constituent, Ms. Lydia Buchanan, who expresses her concerns about the condition some refer to as "Morgellons," and requests that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) make Morgellons research a priority.
Thus far, the medical community has insufficient information to determine whether persons who identify themselves as having "Morgellons" have a single cause for their symptoms and/or share common risk factors. Last year, CDC convened an agency-wide working group of scientisits to plan an epidemiologic investigation witht the hope of learning more about this condition. The frustration and suffering many people associate with "Morgellons" is best addressed by a careful, objective scientific analysis. Given the complexity of this condition, we believe that a measured and thorough approach offers the best chance for finding useful answers.
CDC has taken the following steps in response to inquiries about this condtiion:
* Formed an internal multi-disciplinary working group consisting of experts in epidemiology, enviromental health, chronic diseases, infectious diseases, and mental health. This group is planning the epidemiologic investigation to gather information on this conditiln to see if suffers share common traits, experiences, or anything that might have put them at risk for these symptons.
* Drafted an initial screening case definition for surviellance that has been reviewed by external subject matter experts.
* Drafed a protocol for an epidemiologic investigation currently under review.
* Arranged for forensic pathology analysis for planned sample collections.
The working group is keeping CDC leadership abreast of the status of the investigagtion.
CDC does not provide clinical care to evaluate or treat patients; therefore, we advise persons who believe they suffer from this conition or have distressing symptons to contact their local healthcare providers for evaluation and medical care. If you are interested in obtaining additional information, you may forward an e-mail to MorgellonsSyndrone@cdc.gov.
I appreciate your support of this issure and hope this information is helpful in your response to Ms. Buchanan.
Sincerely,
Julie Louise Gerberdin, MD., MPH
Director
Nice letter!
I've been meaning to post the reply I received from KY Senator Jim Bunning last week. At first I thought it was just the original form reply that all senators received, but I think it may be a liitle different. See what yall think....
Dear Senator Bunning:
I am responding to your letter to Mr. Donald Shriber on behalf of your constituent, Ms. Lydia Buchanan, who expresses her concerns about the condition some refer to as "Morgellons," and requests that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) make Morgellons research a priority.
Thus far, the medical community has insufficient information to determine whether persons who identify themselves as having "Morgellons" have a single cause for their symptoms and/or share common risk factors. Last year, CDC convened an agency-wide working group of scientisits to plan an epidemiologic investigation witht the hope of learning more about this condition. The frustration and suffering many people associate with "Morgellons" is best addressed by a careful, objective scientific analysis. Given the complexity of this condition, we believe that a measured and thorough approach offers the best chance for finding useful answers.
CDC has taken the following steps in response to inquiries about this condtiion:
* Formed an internal multi-disciplinary working group consisting of experts in epidemiology, enviromental health, chronic diseases, infectious diseases, and mental health. This group is planning the epidemiologic investigation to gather information on this conditiln to see if suffers share common traits, experiences, or anything that might have put them at risk for these symptons.
* Drafted an initial screening case definition for surviellance that has been reviewed by external subject matter experts.
* Drafed a protocol for an epidemiologic investigation currently under review.
* Arranged for forensic pathology analysis for planned sample collections.
The working group is keeping CDC leadership abreast of the status of the investigagtion.
CDC does not provide clinical care to evaluate or treat patients; therefore, we advise persons who believe they suffer from this conition or have distressing symptons to contact their local healthcare providers for evaluation and medical care. If you are interested in obtaining additional information, you may forward an e-mail to MorgellonsSyndrone@cdc.gov.
I appreciate your support of this issure and hope this information is helpful in your response to Ms. Buchanan.
Sincerely,
Julie Louise Gerberdin, MD., MPH
Director