2009 Morgellons Conference Held in Austin
by Harriet L. Bishop
The Second Annual Morgellon's Disease Medical Conference held Saturday, April 4 drew doctors, researchers and patients from 19 states and Mexico, ranging in age from 4 months to 80 years! The Westoaks Baptist Church at 2900 W. Slaughter Lane in Austin was the venue for this medical conference which announced results of recent research that shed some light on this mysterious illness that affects systems throughout the entire body, often but not necessarily presenting with unhealing skin lesions. Persons affected are generally those who have had contact with soil, such as farmers and gardeners, or those who have had contact with dirty water, as in hurricanes and flooding. Evidence was also presented suggesting that Morgellon's may be another of the tick-borne diseases, as over 40 different bacteria and parasites have been known to be transmissible by the bite of a single tick. Infected deer ticks are widespread throughout North America.
The common plant bacteria Agrobacterium tumefaciens which causes gall disease in plants is implicated because DNA has been found in skin lesions of some patients, but the results remain inconsistent, suggesting that more research is needed. It is believed that this is the first time a plant bacterium has been known to cross from the plant kingdom to animal kingdom to infect human beings.
Featured speakers were experts in the field who had come from both US coasts as well as the heartland to present their findings. The disease appears to be more prevalent in states with seacoasts, such as California, Texas and Florida although cases are found in other states as well.
Lyme disease is believed to be a precursor to or co-infection with Morgellon's disease, as 97% of Morgellon's patients also test positive for Lyme disease. The most effective treatment at this time for this little known illness is to treat for the underlying Lyme disease, a process that may involve taking various antibiotics in combination for a period of years. Body systems are protected from adverse effects of prolonged antibiotic treatment by careful administration of milk thistle (silymarin), several types of specific probiotics, monthly lab work and frequent examination by the medical professional.
The Charles E. Holman Foundation, based in Texas, is committed to public education and research of Morgellon's disease. Principal Investigator Randy Wymore, Ph.D. conducts research at Oklahoma State University Health Science Center. On the Charles E. Holman Foundation website
www.thenmo.org more than 20,000 households currently report being affected by Morgellon's disease, which remains a medical mystery. Stay tuned!
