Written by Lulu Hamilton. Photo courtesy of SCAD Savannah Film Festival.
Although Lyme disease is a very common illness, with 500,000 new infections in the U.S. each year, many people are unaware of the threat it poses to one’s livelihood, and many doctors do not even believe in it. “The Quiet Epidemic”, directed by Lindsay Keys and Winslow-Crane Murdoch, explores the controversies and buried truths surrounding Lyme disease. The film follows the story of Julia Bruzzese, a teenage girl who was suddenly afflicted with a severe, mysterious illness. As Julia loses the ability to function and walk, Duke University Dr. Neil Spector begins to fight the same battle. Their stories are told side by side as they experience a lack of proper medical care from doctors who do not believe them and refuse to treat them.
Many Lyme patients face this issue, including myself. When I first fell ill in 2013, it was not until 3 years later that I was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease. According to CDC guidelines established in the 1980s, there is no possibility of ongoing infection in a Lyme patient after they have been treated with the standard short-term dose of oral antibiotics. However, at least 10% of patients who treat their acute Lyme disease will fail to get better and will experience symptoms of Lyme disease indefinitely. Due to the CDC’s current Lyme testing protocols, many patients are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for long periods of time, making their disease even harder to treat. The current Lyme disease testing offered by the CDC is less than 50% accurate, and there is no treatment offered for chronic sufferers.
The CDC’s failure to test, treat and acknowledge Lyme disease is uncovered in “The Quiet Epidemic”, as doctors and scholars alike untangle this web of misinformation. The documentary tells the story of Lyme disease from its discovery in the 1970s to the continuous mistreatment of Lyme patients today.
After the screening, I was able to speak to co-director Lindsay Keys, also a Lyme patient, and share my gratitude for a film that finally gives a voice to people with chronic Lyme disease. She shared that the creators of the film are hoping to take it to Congress. This film allows audiences to understand the terrifying reality of chronic Lyme disease and will hopefully create real change in the current harmful CDC policies. With “The Quiet Epidemic” comes more awareness, understanding and better treatment for Lyme disease patients everywhere.
