Forester Scheme - protection against Lyme disease
Foresters are the group most exposed to borreliosis. Almost every day, when they go to work, they risk contact with infected ticks. It is the most frequent occupational infectious disease registered in Poland. According to the Central Register of Occupational Diseases, in the last 5 years, it accounted for more than 95% of all occupational diseases registered in the agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing sectors. [1]
In 2019 alone, the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund (KRUS) paid out nearly 300 one-time compensations for permanent or long-term damage to health as a result of Lyme disease, which accounted for nearly 90% of all compensations. In the same year, more than 20,000 people fell ill with Lyme disease.[2]
That’s why screening tests in the most exposed occupational groups are so important to detect Lyme borreliosis infection at a very early stage; it is important to remember that Lyme borreliosis is a disease that doesn’t always give symptoms as easily recognizable at the beginning as, for example, its characteristic erythema. The later it is diagnosed and managed, the more serious complications it causes. We launched the Forester Scheme for the employees of forest inspectorates and national parks. Its aim is not only to screen tests carried out in forest inspectorates, but also to guide patients from the moment of infection, through accurate diagnosis, to the treatment of complications that may arise even many years after contact with a tick - adds Edyta Jacyna.
The Forester Scheme launched by TU Zdrowie is addressed to the employees of forest inspectorates and national parks. Its primary goal is preventive occupational medicine extended by the full diagnostics in detecting and treating Lyme disease.
Foresters are a specific occupational group that requires special attention in terms of tick-borne diseases. We work together with forest inspectorates, where once a year we perform screening tests for people working in areas particularly exposed to ticks. They have ELISA serology testing for Borrelia burgdorferi infections. If the test reveals elevated antibody titers, we refer patients for further, more precise diagnostics, i.e. Western Blot testing in both classes and possible treatment. This also applies to people who require treatment for complications even after a long time after infection - says Teresa Domańska, director of the Health Insurance Office of TU Zdrowie.
Those who enroll in the scheme have unlimited access to diagnostic tests and specialists who treat Lyme disease and its complications. Family members of employees of forest inspectorates and national parks are also eligible for the Forester Scheme. However, they are not covered by screening and occupational health issues.
More information: https://tuzdrowie.pl/ubezpieczenia-grupowe/program-lesnik/
