PRINTER'S NO. 3176
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
761
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY R. BROWN, BARBIN, BIZZARRO, BOBACK, CALTAGIRONE,
DEAN, HAHN, HARKINS, JAMES, KINSEY, LONGIETTI, McCLINTON,
MILLARD, B. MILLER, MURT, NEILSON, PICKETT, RAPP, READSHAW,
RYAN, SAYLOR, SCHWEYER, STAATS AND WARD, MARCH 15, 2018
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MARCH 15, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Federal Government to allocate significant funds to
Pennsylvania to be used for Lyme disease research and data
surveillance.
WHEREAS, Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted
primarily by ticks and is caused by the spirochete Borrelia
burgdorferi; and
WHEREAS, There are three main species of ticks in
Pennsylvania, which are the blacklegged tick, American dog tick
and lone star tick; and
WHEREAS, The only species that transmits the bacteria which
causes Lyme disease is the blacklegged tick, also referred to as
a deer tick; and
WHEREAS, For the last six years, this Commonwealth has been
ranked highest among all states in the number of confirmed cases
of Lyme disease; and
WHEREAS, In 2016, Pennsylvania reported 12,200 confirmed
cases of Lyme disease, although the Centers for Disease Control
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and Prevention estimates that the actual cases of Lyme disease
can be up to 10 times greater than reported cases, indicating
that Pennsylvania could have up to 122,000 cases each year; and
WHEREAS, Lyme disease may cause early symptoms, including a
rash or flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, headaches
and fatigue, which can be easily misdiagnosed; and
WHEREAS, Early clinical diagnosis and appropriate treatment
of tick-borne disorders and diseases may significantly reduce
the risks of continued, diverse and chronic symptoms, which may
adversely affect every system and organ of the human body and
often every aspect of an individual's life; and
WHEREAS, Lyme disease poses a serious threat to the quality
of life of many Pennsylvanians; and
WHEREAS, In October 2016, the Pennsylvania Legislative Budget
and Finance Committee released a report on the cost estimates to
implement the recommendations of the Task Force on Lyme Disease
and Related Tick-Borne Diseases; and
WHEREAS, With respect to funding, the report highlights that
many states receive Federal funding, including grants, for
various Lyme disease projects and that Pennsylvania, in
comparison to other states, receives very little Federal funding
for these purposes; and
WHEREAS, Lack of funding leads to lack of data which in turn
leads to under-reporting and under-diagnosis; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Health and Human Services National
Institutes of Health anticipates having a budget of $22 million
this year for Lyme disease research; and
WHEREAS, It is currently unknown how much of this money will
be utilized or made available for grants to states or other
research entities; therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Federal Government to
allocate significant funds from the anticipated $22 million to
Pennsylvania to be used for Lyme disease research and data
surveillance; and be it further
RESOLVED, That certified copies of this resolution be
transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice
President of the United States, the Secretary of the United
States Department of Health and Human Services, the Director of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to each
member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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