PRINTER'S NO. 19
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
38
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY BROWN, HILL-EVANS, HENNESSEY, READSHAW, PEIFER,
BIZZARRO, JAMES, SCHLOSSBERG, SAPPEY, STURLA, CONKLIN, RYAN,
CALTAGIRONE, SONNEY, KORTZ, PICKETT, BERNSTINE, LONGIETTI,
BARRAR, KINSEY, EMRICK, SAINATO, MEHAFFIE, FREEMAN, WARNER,
HELM, MACKENZIE, OBERLANDER, MILLARD, PYLE, B. MILLER,
KAUFFMAN, SAYLOR, PASHINSKI, OWLETT, ZIMMERMAN, STAATS,
IRVIN, DiGIROLAMO, MURT, KAUFER, NEILSON, M. K. KELLER,
TOOHIL, QUINN, HAHN, HEFFLEY, CAUSER, RADER, FEE, T. DAVIS,
DRISCOLL AND EVERETT, JANUARY 24, 2019
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JANUARY 24, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of May 2019 as "Lyme and Tick-borne
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 such as
babesiosis, bartonellosis, anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted
fever, ehrlichiosis and others pose a serious threat to the
health and quality of life of many Pennsylvanians; and
WHEREAS, The frequency of diagnosed and reported Lyme disease
cases has increased dramatically over the past several years and
the severity continues to increase, evidenced by multiple deaths
attributable to tick-borne diseases in youths and young adults
reported in 2017; and
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WHEREAS, The most recent 15-year surveillance study of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which 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, In August 2013, the CDC released a report stating
that preliminary estimates indicate approximately 300,000
Americans are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year, and this
amount is approximately 10 times higher than the number of cases
previously reported to the CDC every year; and
WHEREAS, In the last six years, Pennsylvania ranked highest
in the country in the number of confirmed cases of Lyme disease;
and
WHEREAS, In 2016, Pennsylvania confirmed 11,443 cases, which
translates to 114,430 new cases, accounting for 38% of the
nation's cases of Lyme disease; and
WHEREAS, In 2015, the Department of Environmental Protection
published a study that confirmed a high risk of Lyme disease in
every county of this Commonwealth, as 67 counties had the
blacklegged tick, verifying that every Pennsylvanian, from
Philadelphia to Erie, must take precautions to prevent the
spread of Lyme disease; and
WHEREAS, The most common way to acquire Lyme disease and
other tick-borne diseases is to be bitten by a tick that carries
the spirochete and, potentially, other infections; and
WHEREAS, This disease is not limited to age or ethnic
boundaries; and
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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 a
chronic debilitating illness that is very difficult to
eradicate; and
WHEREAS, The prevention of Lyme disease and other tick-borne
diseases is difficult; and
WHEREAS, Residents of this Commonwealth can greatly reduce
their chance of tick bites and pathogen transmission this spring
season if they take proper precautions while engaged in outdoor
activities, make frequent tick checks and remove and dispose of
ticks promptly and properly; and
WHEREAS, Residents of this Commonwealth can greatly reduce
the risk of Lyme disease on their properties through landscape,
insecticide and other measures that have been found to be
effective; and
WHEREAS, The schools of this Commonwealth can greatly reduce
the risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases among
schoolchildren through prevention education and precautions,
including instruction to parents regarding steps to take before
and after school-related activities such as field trips and
sports, prompt and proper tick removals and notification of
parents and guardians of tick bites; and
WHEREAS, Residents of this Commonwealth should be aware of
early, disseminated and late/persistent symptoms, and that a
negative Lyme test cannot rule out Lyme disease, as testing may
miss approximately 50% of actual cases; and
WHEREAS, The early clinical diagnosis and appropriate
treatment of these tick-borne disorders and diseases can greatly
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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 an individual's life; and
WHEREAS, "Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Awareness Month"
provides an opportunity to focus on these significant and
complex diseases, provides information on prevention and
personal protection and raises public awareness of the causes,
effects, potential severity, diagnostic challenges and treatment
options of the disease and underscores important education
efforts surrounding Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of May 2019 as "Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Awareness
Month" in Pennsylvania in a continued effort to benefit the
overall health and quality of life of the residents of this
Commonwealth by increasing their awareness of the threat of tick
bites and the potential seriousness of Lyme disease and other
tick-borne diseases.
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