May 30, 2016.

70 patients, suffering from Lyme disease, have indicated that they are preparing a collective legal action against the laboratories that market the tests for the disease, but also against the state which, according to them, also bears a responsibility.

Collective legal action against the state

On Saturday May 28, the National Day against Lyme disease was organized in nearly 20 cities in France. An opportunity to educate as many people as possible against the dangers of a still little-known disease. Too many patients suffer from the lack of consideration of their disease in France, especially on the part of the public authorities. This is what prompted 70 of them to sue the state, as well as the laboratories that market the detection tests.

In the sights of patients: the BioMérieux laboratory, whose screening tests would not be effective. ” But we are listing the others “, Specified the lawyers of the plaintiffs, Me Julien Fouray and Catherine Faivre, in the columns of the Figaro. In France, only 27,000 cases of Lyme disease would be diagnosed, against 300,000 Germany.

Serious sequelae for some patients

” I do not understand why the Ministry of Health is doing nothing for this disease », Commented Eric Choulant, Lyme patient, for Normandy-news. ” Why nothing is reimbursed, why this disease is not recognized … “

” A number of studies have shown that biological diagnostic tests are not effective, the High Council for Public Health (HCSP) recognized this in its 2014 opinion », Added Me Faivre. ” And yet nothing is done “.

The after-effects of this tick-borne bacterial infection can be serious. While some patients will only suffer from joint pain or impaired concentration, others, on the other hand, may become physically disabled or may lose their hearing.

Read also: Lyme disease: millions of patients who ignore each other?