THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY HESS, SCAVELLO, HENNESSEY, DiGIROLAMO, BAKER, ADOLPH, BEAR, BOBACK, BRENNAN, BROOKS, R. BROWN, CAUSER, CLYMER, CONKLIN, CUTLER, DALEY, EMRICK, EVANKOVICH, J. EVANS, EVERETT, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, HAHN, HARHART, HARKINS, HARPER, HARRIS, HEFFLEY, HELM, HICKERNELL, KAMPF, KAUFFMAN, M. K. KELLER, KILLION, KNOWLES, KORTZ, KOTIK, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, MALONEY, MARSHALL, MARSICO, METZGAR, MILLARD, MILLER, MUSTIO, OBERLANDER, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PICKETT, QUINN, READSHAW, ROCK, ROSS, SANTONI, SAYLOR, CULVER, M. SMITH, SONNEY, STABACK, STERN, TOOHIL, WATSON AND GABLER, MAY 8, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MAY 8, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of May 2012 as "Lyme Disease Awareness

Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted

primarily by ticks and is caused by the spirochete Borrelia

burgdorferi; and

WHEREAS, Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases and

disorders, such as babesiosis, Bartonella and ehrlichiosis, pose

a serious threat to the quality of life of many Pennsylvanians,

with the frequency of diagnosed and reported Lyme disease cases

increasing dramatically over the past several years; and

WHEREAS, The most recent 15-year surveillance study of the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which study

was published in 2008, reveals continued emergence and

geographic expansion of Lyme disease across the United States;

and

WHEREAS, The CDC study reports a disproportionate increase

among children and recommends a Public Health Action to call for

an increase in targeted prevention strategies, tick avoidance,

early disease recognition and early treatment interventions; and 

WHEREAS, From 2006 to 2011, total reported cases of Lyme

disease in Pennsylvania have more than doubled; and

WHEREAS, Experts forecast a significant surge in Lyme disease

for 2012, warning that Northeastern states should be prepared

and should notify the public of increased risk and the need for

prevention; and

WHEREAS, During 2010, Pennsylvania ranked first in the nation

with 3,805 confirmed and probable cases, and according to CDC

provisional numbers for 2011, an additional increase to 7,484

cases was expected, which again would rank Pennsylvania first in

the nation; and

WHEREAS, The most common way to acquire Lyme disease is to be

bitten by a tick that carries the spirochete; and

WHEREAS, This disease is not limited to age or ethnic

boundaries; and

WHEREAS, Lyme disease can cause early symptoms, including a

rash or flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, headaches

and fatigue, that can easily be misdiagnosed; and

WHEREAS, If not caught early, Lyme disease can lead to

chronic debilitating illness that is very difficult to

eradicate; and

WHEREAS, The prevention of Lyme disease and other tick-borne

disorders is difficult; and

WHEREAS, The people of this Commonwealth can greatly reduce

their chance of tick pathogen transmission if they take proper

caution while engaged in outdoor activities from early spring

through late fall, as well as during a warmer winter season, and

make frequent tick checks and remove and dispose of ticks

promptly and properly; and

WHEREAS, The people of this Commonwealth can greatly reduce

the risk of Lyme disease on their properties through landscape,

insecticide and other measures found to be effective; and

WHEREAS, The early clinical diagnosis and appropriate

treatment of these tick-borne disorders and diseases can greatly

reduce the risks of continued, diverse and chronic symptoms that

can affect every system and organ of the human body and often

every aspect of persons' lives; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

month of May 2012 as "Lyme Disease Awareness Month" in

Pennsylvania in a continued effort to benefit the overall health

and quality of life of the citizens of this Commonwealth by

increasing their awareness of the threat of infected tick bites

and the potential seriousness of Lyme disease and other tick-

borne disorders.