The Trudeau government’s announced a new framework and $4-million in research funds to fight Lyme disease.

Health Minister Jane Philpott says the goal of the new research network is to improve diagnosis and treatment.

The framework includes, establishing a national medical surveillance program to use data collected by the Public Health Agency of Canada to track incidence rates and the economic costs of Lyme disease, creating and distributing standardized educational materials for public health care providers to increase awareness to improve prevention, identification, treatment and management.

The disease is caused by bacteria transmitted through the bite of select types of infected ticks, which can leave a bull’s-eye shaped rash on the skin.

(CBC)

MPs on the Commons health committee will hold two days of hearings on Lyme disease in the coming weeks.

The disease in humans was designated a nationally notifiable disease in 2009 – identified as a priority for monitoring and control efforts by all levels of government.