A RESOLUTION

 

1Urging the Pennsylvania Game Commission to include Lyme disease
2education in the Hunter-Trapper Education training courses
3that are offered to hunters each year.

4WHEREAS, Lyme disease is a potentially serious disease
5transmitted to humans through deer tick bites and is the most
6common tick-borne disease in the United States; and

7WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and
8Prevention, 22,014 cases of Lyme disease were confirmed in the
9United States in 2012; and

10WHEREAS, Four thousand one hundred forty-six, 18.83% of all
11confirmed cases in the United States, occurred in this
12Commonwealth; and

13WHEREAS, Lyme disease is a frequently misunderstood illness
14that if not caught and treated properly can cause serious health
15problems; and

16WHEREAS, Children five to nine years of age and adults in
17their fifties and sixties experience the highest occurrence of
18Lyme disease; and

1WHEREAS, Symptoms of Lyme disease vary and may include fever,
2headache, joint pain and fatigue and 70% to 80% of people
3develop a rash that begins as a darkened area at the site of the
4tick attachment that resembles a bull's eye rash; and

5WHEREAS, In most cases, the infection and its symptoms are
6eliminated by antibiotics, especially if the illness is treated
7early; and

8WHEREAS, Delayed or inadequate treatment can lead to more
9serious symptoms, which can be disabling and difficult to treat;
10and

11WHEREAS, The best protection from tick exposure is education
12and reduction of exposure to the ticks, including tucking in
13pant cuffs and using bug repellant containing DEET; and

14WHEREAS, The health and well-being of the men and women of
15this Commonwealth who participate in outdoor activities is of
16paramount importance to the Senate; therefore be it

17RESOLVED, That the Senate urge the Pennsylvania Game
18Commission to include Lyme disease education in the Hunter-
19Trapper Education training courses that are offered to hunters
20each year.