Dear Dr McKay,

You recently had syndicated an article in various newspapers across the world and appeared on Australian TV entitled “The great Australian Lyme conspiracy”.

As you are most likely aware by now, this article has been extremely controversial.

I would like to address some of the inaccuracies and omissions in your article about Lyme Disease in Australia.

“No proof”

Your article states “Lyme disease is real, but there’s no scientific proof that it’s occurring in Australia. ”

This is incorrect.  B. Queenslandica was found in rats in Richmond, North Queensland in 1962.  Additionally, other tick borne infections associated with Lyme Disease such as Bartonella, Babesia, Rickettsia etc. are found in Australia.

A more recent ongoing study at Murdoch University has also found evidence of relapsing fever Borrelia and a new type of Neoehrlichia bacterium.

“Only in Europe and North America”

Your article states…