Documentary Exposes Silent Epidemic LYME DISEASE CONTROVERY RAGES: PATIENTS SUFFER AS MEDICAL COMMUNITY BATTLES. Under Our Skin Shows Patients and Physicians Fighting for Lives and Livelihoods
Lyme Disease may be the most controversial illness in America today. It's certainly among the most misunderstood. Is it easily treated with a short course of antibiotics or can it be a long term (or chronic) illness that's increasingly misdiagnosed—leading to lifelong disabilities and even death?


    /Maryland News Articles/ - ROCKVILLE, MD - June 05, 2008 - Now an acclaimed new documentary, Under Our Skin, examines the debilitating truths about Lyme disease. Tens of thousands of victims either go undiagnosed or believe they are misdiagnosed with such conditions as multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's disease, Parkinson's disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, autism and even hypochondria. In heartbreaking detail, Under Our Skin chronicles patients' long and frustrating battles against both the illness and a skeptical medical establishment.

Almost everyone knows someone who suffers from Lyme. Transmitted by ticks, the number of cases in the United States has doubled since 1991—with at least 21-thousand new cases each year. But the Centers for Disease Control admits the actual numbers may be up to twelve times higher--making Lyme disease an epidemic larger than AIDS, West Nile Virus and Avian Flu combined. Yet there is no accurate test to diagnose the disease, and the medical community is at odds on how to treat it. Many doctors deny Chronic Lyme exists and insurance companies often refuse to pay for long term medical treatment.

In Under Our Skin, Andy Abraham Wilson and Open Eye Pictures investigate the human, medical and political dimensions of Lyme disease. Years in the making, the film brings into focus a haunting picture of our healthcare system and its ability (or inability) to cope with a silent terror under our skin.
"The most important documentary to come out this year."—Molly Bedham, XM Radio

"Well-researched, suspenseful, artfully shot."—Alissa Simon, Variety.

Under Our Skin is an official selection of the prestigious Silverdocs AFI/Discovery Documentary Film Festival, taking place June 16-23, 2008 in Silver Spring, MD.

The D.C. area premier for Under Our Skin at SilverDocs will be:
• Tuesday, June 17 - 1:15 p.m.
• Saturday, June 21 - 4:00 p.m.
• Monday, June 23 - 8:00 p.m.


MEDIA INQUIRIES: The producers of Under Our Skin are available for interviews—as are patients and doctors profiled in the documentary. Copies of the film are available on DVD, as well as excerpts on Beta SP. For more information contact Kathleen Quaid Weisz at (610) 918-1129 or at (cell) 610-247-2824.

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Press Release Contact Information:

Kathleen Quaid Weisz
On The Marc Media
publicist
304 Thompson Dairy Way
Rockville, MD
20850
Voice: (610) 918-1129
Fax: 301-208-2120
Website: Visit Our Website