Is the ever-growing Lyme disease epidemic the result of a U.S. military experiment gone wrong? New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ 4), thinks so.
A number of recent books and articles suggest significant research has been done at U.S. government facilities to turn ticks and other insects into bioweapons.
And Donald Trump and his inner circle were shocked that these military efforts may be linked to autism.
Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons written by Kris Newby includes interviews with Dr. Willy Burgdorfer — the researcher who is credited with discovering Lyme disease.
The book reveals that Dr. Burgdorfer was a bioweapons specialist who did research for the government. Those interviews combined with access to Dr. Burgdorfer’s lab files suggest he and other bioweapons specialists stuffed ticks with pathogens to cause severe disabilities, diseases and even death to potential enemies.
An amendment offered by Smith and passed by Congress earlier this year directs the Inspector General of the Department of Defense to investigate the “possible involvement of DOD biowarfare labs in the weaponization of Lyme disease in ticks and other insects.”
The relationship between the experiments and the continued denial of chronic Lyme is something Congressman Smith would like to see explored further.
“If this (book) is true — and the documentation is very persuasive — we were doing bio-weapons work that was grossly immoral,” Smith said in an interview. “It’s a shocking read, and I hope it adds to our push. Looking at what happened might help us come up with how we deal with it now.”
Smith wrote a letter to President Trump and three inspector generals – of the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Agriculture – requesting a “serious and comprehensive investigation” into the book’s assertions. Smith’s letter caught the attention of a number of members of Trump’s inner circle.
Upwards of 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year – nearly half being children – yet it continues to be largely misunderstood and its sufferers often spend years misdiagnosed.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America refuses to recognize chronic Lyme disease in its clinical practice guidelines, leaving its victims to find “Lyme-friendly” doctors, which is not easy, and very expensive.
Along with symptoms like brain fog, excruciating joint pain, and debilitating fatigue, there has also been a link made between Lyme disease and autism. Dr. Jodie Dashore, Ph.D., of Marlboro, New Jersey is an expert in integrative medicine specializing in neurology cares for Lyme patients from 40 different countries.
Dr. Dashore says there is an established link between Lyme disease and many with an autism diagnosis. “New Jersey has a large population of people diagnosed with Lyme disease – and here’s the key – New Jersey has a large population of people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder,” Dashore said, she estimates that 65 percent of her child patients with autism have Lyme.
Should the Pentagon investigation reveal that the DOD weaponized Lyme disease in ticks, Smith’s amendment calls for a report on the scope of the experiment and whether the insects used were “released outside of any laboratory by accident or experiment design.”
The results of this investigation could affect thousands of Americans who suffer every single day with one of the most misunderstood diseases of our time.
As the wife of someone suffering many of these same devastating symptoms but who remains undiagnosed this push for answers by Congressman Smith is a welcome sight.
We will continue to follow this story as it unfolds and keep our readers up-to-date.