YARMOUTH, Maine — People with Lyme disease and tick-borne illness in Maine and across the country are working to renew federal legislation.

They want lawmakers to renew the Kay Hagan Tick Act . Named after a North Carolina senator who died from a tick-borne disease, this law would fund research, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for another five years.

This effort is urgent because Maine has already seen more Lyme disease cases than last year's record number of more than 3,200 cases.

Adina Bercowicz understands the seriousness of tick-borne illnesses. Bercowicz has late-stage neurological Lyme disease and several co-infections that have damaged her nervous system, causing symptoms similar to congestive heart failure. She also has late-stage Lupus.

Bercowicz founded and leads

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