At the end of January, 2020, the U.S. Centres for Diseases Control (CDC) updated their website in 3 different locations to address the very important issue of maternal-fetal transmission of Lyme disease to her fetus/baby, stating:
"Untreated Lyme disease during pregnancy can lead to infection of the placenta. Spread from mother to fetus is possible but rare."
CDC Links:
https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/transmission/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/faq/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/resources/toolkit/factsheets/Pregnancy-and-Lyme-Disease-508.pdf
Clearly addressing the possibility of transmission from an infected mother to her baby is so important and we hope and trust this will open new doors for families who have expressed concern that their children were infected in-utero, so as to access timely medical treatment, support, follow-up and care. This update also provides confirmation of the necessity for urgent, dedicated, scientific and medical research, in this area.
At LymeHope, we have had a conversation with the Chief of Staff for Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu and continue important dialogue with other senior policy staff in her office to ensure they are aware of the CDC update on maternal-fetal transmission of Lyme as well as other important Lyme disease related issues. An in-person meeting was scheduled and confirmed with Chief Medical Officer for the Public Health Agency of Canada, Dr. Theresa Tam, which has now been rescheduled due to COVID-19.
Of note, there have been two recent published articles (open access) in the peer reviewed medical literature which also acknowledge maternal-fetal transmission of Lyme disease. Both written by Infectious Disease experts in Ireland (1) and Netherlands (2).
1: Lambert JS. An Overview of Tickborne Infections in Pregnancy and Outcomes in the Newborn: The Need for Prospective Studies. Front Med (Lausanne). 2020;7:72. Published 2020 Mar 6. doi:10.3389/fmed.2020.00072
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7069275/
2: Kullberg Bart Jan, Vrijmoeth Hedwig D, van de Schoor Freek, Hovius Joppe W. Lyme Borreliosis: diagnosis and management BMJ 2020; 369: m1041
Link: https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1041
LymeHope has also gathered together the literature/citations on Maternal-Fetal transmission of Lyme. This 88 page document can be downloaded/viewed here: https://www.lymehope.ca/advocacy-updates/march-03rd-2018
We trust that the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and indeed all Provincial public health departments will follow the CDC update and will update their own websites on Lyme to acknowledge Maternal-Fetal transmission of Lyme disease.
It is important to note that Alberta Health currently recognizes transmission from mother to baby, stating on page 9: "Lyme disease is not transmitted from person-to-person except as noted here. The bacterium has been found in breast milk(47) and stored blood from blood donations in the United States(6) resulting in a theoretical remote risk. Transplacental transmission resulting in extremely rare fetal death has been documented.(48)"
As an aside, in 1988, Federal Health and Welfare Canada did distribute a bulletin which was also published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) in which maternal-fetal (transplacental) transmission of Lyme disease was acknowledged.
https://www.lymehope.ca/advocacy-updates/health-and-welfare-canada-1988-report
Health and Welfare Canada. Lyme Disease in Canada. Canada Dis Wkly Report, June 4, 1988.
Bollegraaf, E. Lyme Disease in Canada. Canadian Medical Association Journal. Vol 139. August 1, 1988.
What can you do to help? Please share this petition with your family, friends and colleagues. We are now at 86,300 signatures and over 15,000 comments.
Please consider calling or emailing your local Provincial and Federal elected representatives and updating them on this important issue. Canadians need urgent change and for patients and their experts to be included and valued in the process.
To all the LymeMoms out there who have been raising concerns about in utero transmission of Lyme for decades - we thank you for continuing to advocate for your children, all children and future generations.
With Hope,
Sue Faber, RN BScN
Co-Founder and President, LymeHope