HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled efforts to enhance diagnosis, treatment, and research for tick-borne diseases, aiming to reduce cases and improve patient outcomes.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced new initiatives to address Lyme disease, alpha-gal syndrome, and other tick-borne illnesses on Monday, focusing on faster diagnoses, improved treatments, and advanced research. Actor Dennis Quaid joined the announcement as a patient advocate, highlighting the need for accurate diagnoses and his personal story of misdiagnosis. 📺 DETAIL: Kennedy emphasized that nearly 500,000 Americans are diagnosed with Lyme disease annually, and many more are misdiagnosed or untreated. HHS is investing in AI-powered tools to improve care and has worked with LymeX to bring improved Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared diagnostics to market. The announcement builds on earlier initiatives, including U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tick-control pilots and innovation challenges, with a goal of reducing Lyme cases by 25 percent by 2035. Another targeted tick-borne illness, alpha-gal syndrome, is notable for causing sufferers to develop an allergy to red meat. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “At HHS, we are taking bold new actions against Lyme disease, alpha-gal syndrome, and other tick-borne diseases—accelerating research, improving care, and driving new treatments. Millions of Americans need faster diagnoses, better care, and real answers.” – Robert F. Kennedy Jr., HHS Secretary 🎯 IMPACT: The initiatives aim to provide clinicians with better tools, improve patient outcomes, and reduce the prevalence of tick-borne illnesses. By enhancing diagnostics and treatment options, the measures could alleviate long-term suffering for the 10-20 percent of patients who remain symptomatic despite treatment. 📺 FLASHBACK: In May, Kennedy announced a suite of Lyme disease initiatives, including public-private partnerships and funding for innovation, as part of his broader Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda. |
At HHS, we are taking bold new actions against Lyme disease, alpha-gal syndrome, and other tick-borne diseases—accelerating research, improving care, and driving new treatments.
Millions of Americans need faster diagnoses, better care, and real answers.
Thank you Dennis Quaid… pic.twitter.com/wU8TEx9yPB
— Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) August 17, 2026
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