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Why is it important to increase your awareness about Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Diseases/Associated Illnesses? Lyme is the most prevalent vector borne disease in the US and there are nearly 20 known pathogens that ticks may transmit in our country. These infections and associated illnesses can be life altering or even life ending.
We are dedicated to supporting patients, families, educators, outdoor professionals, recreationists, and medical care providers within Colorado and beyond to find the resources they need for prevention as well as access to early and accurate diagnosis, treatment, and support for Lyme & other tick-borne diseases and associated illnesses.
Prevention is the most effective means to avoid tick-borne diseases and associated illnesses; and access to timely, accurate diagnosis and care is key to a positive outcome when exposed to the many pathogens that ticks can transmit or illnesses/conditions that a tick bite may trigger.
There continues to be conflicting information about the risk of infection and how best to treat Lyme and other tick-borne diseases and associated illnesses. Lack of research, monitoring, and surveillance efforts in Colorado has left gaps of knowledge about the prevalence and risk from ticks and the diseases they carry that affect people and pets in our state. Experience and training in recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases is not prevalent in the mainstream medical community in Colorado, leading to delayed diagnosis and care for too many.
We are determined to help fill in the gaps of information regarding what we know about distribution and prevalence of ticks and tick-borne infections in Colorado through citizen science studies in order to better describe the risks in Colorado.
We wish to help our Colorado medical care providers recognize, diagnose and properly treat patients faced with these too often debilitating or even deadly diseases. We are determined to support patients seeking a timely and correct diagnosis and those that are fighting chronic illness as a result of infections, most often those patients sick with Lyme disease, the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States.
We founded Colorado Tick-Borne Disease Awareness Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2016 to effectively carry out our mission to help others!
Colorado Tick-Borne Disease Awareness Association (COTBDAA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in August 2016 with the mission to elevate awareness of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases/conditions for Coloradans through education, prevention, research, and advocacy, as well as providing patient support.
Why We Do This Work: A Personal Story Behind Our Mission
In 2013, after years of unexplained illness within our family, we were devastated to learn that the cause was multiple tick-borne infections, including Lyme disease. We had no idea that a single tick bite could lead to such profound and lasting health consequences.
We asked ourselves:
How did we not know the risks?
Why weren’t we warned about prevention?
Why weren’t the signs and symptoms being discussed in schools, workplaces, or even in medical offices?
And why was it so difficult to find accurate testing, effective treatment, and knowledgeable care—especially here in Colorado?
As we searched for answers, we realized we weren’t alone. Far too many people in Colorado are suffering due to lack of awareness, limited access to care, and outdated assumptions about the risks of tick-borne diseases in our region.
This lack of knowledge led to years of pain and uncertainty for our family. It changed our lives—and it fueled our determination to ensure others don’t have to endure the same struggle.
Organization name
Colorado Tick-Borne Disease Awareness Association
2016
Tax id (EIN)
81-3611916
Category
Education, Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines, Environment, Health Care, Public & Societal Benefit, Science & Technology, Animal-Related, Human Services
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
9996 W US HWY 50 PMB 1115CO, US
Chaffee County, CO, US