OAN Staff Lillian Mann
1:00 PM – Monday, August 17, 2026
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced new sweeping efforts in research and patient care for Lyme disease, alpha-gal syndrome and other tick-borne diseases.
On Sunday, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed that research for vector-borne diseases will be fast-tracked with a series of major initiatives shared in a video statement along with actor and patient advocate Dennis Quaid on X.
Quaid has publicly shared that he personally suffered from Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick, giving him firsthand experience with the difficulties of diagnosis and long-term recovery. Beyond his personal diagnosis, he has become a vocal advocate for raising awareness about tick-borne illnesses.
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the U.S. and can lead to chronic and often invisible multi-system illnesses. An estimated 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Even after treatment, up to 20% of patients may develop Lyme “infection-associated chronic conditions and illnesses,” according to the HHS.
“Today we’re announcing bold new actions by the Trump Administration to improve care, accelerate research and speed innovations for Americans living with Lyme disease, alpha-gal syndrome and other tick-borne diseases,” RFK Jr. declared in the video.
“Too many Americans spend months or even years searching for answers, too many are misdiagnosed and too many go untreated—we’re changing that,” the HHS secretary continued.
Quaid chimed in, adding that “nearly half a million Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease annually. And behind every one of those numbers is a person, a family and a community looking for answers.”
The HHS is investing millions in innovation to develop AI-powered tools that improve patient care, enable earlier diagnoses and accelerate research, RFK Jr. continued.
The health agency has also collaborated with the LymeX community to introduce two improved, FDA-cleared Lyme disease diagnostics to the market, providing healthcare providers with better tools for faster, more accurate diagnoses.
RFK Jr. and Quaid urge those who suffer from Lyme disease or experience lingering Lyme disease symptoms to share their experience through Cure ID — the free FDA and National Institutes of Health (NIH) app and website that offers real world treatment information and offers vital information for clinical trials.
“We want to get back to a country where families can enjoy the outdoors again,” RFK Jr. declared. “Where kids can spend their summers exploring the woods, camping, fishing, hiking and playing outside, and parents don’t have to wonder whether a single tick bite could change their child’s life forever.”
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