Those afflicted with a tick borne illness or those wanting to learn more are welcomed to gather together Jan. 31 from 6:30-8 p.m. in the meeting room of the Hillsboro Public Library, 819 High Ave.

The bacterial agent which causes Lyme Disease is the spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacterial infection is most commonly transmitted by the feeding of a deer tick upon its human host. The severity of symptoms (there can a multitude of them) arising from this illness may range from being barely noticeable to being overwhelming. This extreme range of manifestations depends on how long one has been infected, how large is the the load of the infection, and if other tick borne co-infections have also been transmitted by the deer tick. Lyme Disease is known as the great imitator. Its symptoms mimic many other auto-immune diseases, thus complicating efforts to determine why a person is feeling so poorly.

“Lyme disease is the most prevalent tick-borne disease in the U.S., with an incidence higher than AIDS, West Nile Virus, and Avian Flu combined,” writes Dr. Todd LePine in the January, 2014 issue of  The Townsend Letter.

Our monthly meeting provides round table conversations in a supportive setting. A variety of free, published materials are available, as well as lists of helpful publications which can be borrowed from your local library or purchased, if you so choose.

Questions may be emailed to garycepek@yahoo.com, submitted by telephone at 608-489-2725 (ask for Gary),  or sent by regular mail to: Gary Cepek, S1468 Cepek Rd., Elroy, WI 53929.