U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal announced on Wednesday a $600,000 federal grant to improve testing for Lyme disease.
The Connecticut Democrat made the announcement in Danbury alongside researchers from Western Connecticut Biomedical Research Institute and the Seattle-based RareCyte, Inc.
Blumenthal's office said Lyme disease affects some 300,000 Americans each year, and that Connecticut has among the largest number of reported cases.
Many of the current tests used to detect Lyme disease can give false negative results early in the course of the illness, leading to delayed treatment. Blumenthal's office said that better testing will enable earlier detection and better treatment of the disease.
The ailment is named after Lyme, Connecticut, where it was first identified in 1975.
This report includes information from The Associated Press.