LymeCare, an organization advocating for the rights and well-being of Lyme disease patients, has published an open letter addressed to key Bulgarian authorities, including President Rumen Radev, the Ombudsman, political parties, and leading media outlets. The letter calls for urgent governmental intervention to address the escalating Lyme disease crisis in Bulgaria, specifically related to infections caused by Borrelia, the bacteria responsible for the illness.
The letter draws attention to the severe mismanagement of Lyme disease cases in Bulgaria, where as many as 25% of the population may be infected. LymeCare stresses that tens of thousands of Bulgarians are suffering without proper diagnosis or treatment, primarily due to outdated medical protocols and flawed diagnostic processes that leave many patients undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Most concerning is the tendency within the medical community to dismiss the symptoms of Lyme disease as psychological or as unrelated chronic conditions, leaving many patients struggling to find appropriate care.
LymeCare strongly criticizes the fact that Bulgaria has failed to implement the recommendations from a 2018 European Parliament resolution, which urged member states to improve the diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease. This inaction, according to the letter, has left a gap in Bulgaria’s healthcare system, resulting in widespread suffering and avoidable long-term health consequences for infected individuals.
The letter also criticizes the lack of dialogue between patients and healthcare providers in Bulgaria. According to LymeCare, those suffering from Lyme disease often face indifference from the medical establishment, with their symptoms and experiences being ignored or minimized. This lack of recognition exacerbates the problem, leaving patients without any effective recourse for proper treatment. The organization demands that the Bulgarian government officially recognize chronic Lyme disease as a medical condition that requires specialized care.
One of the letter’s central demands is the urgent need for reform in the diagnostic process. The current tests used in Bulgaria are considered unreliable by LymeCare, leading to many false negatives or delayed diagnoses. The organization urges for the adoption of more modern, internationally recognized diagnostic standards that would allow for earlier detection of Lyme disease. This, in turn, could significantly reduce the number of patients progressing to chronic or late-stage Lyme, a condition that leads to severe long-term health issues.
LymeCare also argues for the need to better train healthcare professionals in Bulgaria to handle Lyme disease cases. Many doctors, according to the letter, lack the necessary knowledge to recognize the symptoms of Lyme, particularly in its chronic form, leading to a lack of proper care and follow-up. Improving medical education and awareness of tick-borne diseases is cited as a critical step toward improving patient outcomes.
Beyond individual care, the open letter also warns of the broader public health implications of the growing Lyme disease epidemic. If the situation is not addressed promptly, the letter suggests, Bulgaria may face a major healthcare crisis, with more patients becoming chronically ill and disabled. This would not only place a significant burden on the country’s healthcare system but could also result in long-term socioeconomic impacts as more individuals are unable to work due to untreated or poorly managed Lyme disease.
In addition to better diagnostics and treatment protocols, LymeCare calls for a nationwide public awareness campaign aimed at educating the Bulgarian population about the dangers of Lyme disease and the importance of early detection. They argue that greater awareness could lead to earlier treatment and reduce the number of individuals progressing to severe stages of the illness.
In conclusion, the open letter represents a passionate plea from LymeCare for the Bulgarian government, health authorities, and media to take immediate and coordinated action to address the Lyme disease crisis. The organization calls for reforms across several key areas, including diagnostic standards, medical training, patient care, and public awareness. Without swift and decisive action, they warn, Bulgaria risks a major public health catastrophe, with thousands of patients left to suffer needlessly from a disease that could be better managed with the right medical and governmental support.