The Dutch Lyme disease association has submitted a petition of 65,000 names to parliament, enough to make sure the issue gets debated under citizen’s initiative legislation.

Lyme disease was relatively unknown in the the Netherlands in the 1980s but tens of thousands of people are now infected every year. The association estimates up to 500,000 people may have the illness in one form or another.
The disease is spread by infected ticks which are very common in some parts of the country. Early symptoms may include fever, headache, fatigue, depression, and a circular skin rash. If it is left untreated, Lyme can affect the joints, heart, and central nervous system and lead to permanent disability.