PRINTER'S NO. 704
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
102
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY BROOKS, MASTRIANO, LANGERHOLC, BARTOLOTTA,
J. WARD, BROWNE, SCAVELLO, KEARNEY, MARTIN, VOGEL, MENSCH,
ARGALL, PITTMAN, COSTA, YUDICHAK, KANE, YAW, GORDNER, STEFANO
AND CAPPELLETTI, MAY 4, 2021
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, MAY 4, 2021
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of May 2021 as "Lyme Disease and Tick-
Borne Illness Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted
primarily by ticks; and
WHEREAS, Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete Borrelia
burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of
infected blacklegged ticks; and
WHEREAS, Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses 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 residents of this
Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Symptoms of Lyme disease can include fever,
headache, fatigue and a characteristic rash called erythema
migrans; and
WHEREAS, If left untreated, the infection can spread to
joints, the heart and the nervous system; and
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WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease
in the United States; and
WHEREAS, In 2018, 10,208 Lyme disease cases were reported in
this Commonwealth, but the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention estimate under-reporting by a factor of 10 and
project occurrence rates, more accurately, in the 100,000s; and
WHEREAS, From 2000 to 2018, there were 106,718 confirmed Lyme
disease cases in this Commonwealth, but due to the fact that the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's number only
represents confirmed cases, the actual number of Lyme disease
cases may be far greater, possibly over 1 million; and
WHEREAS, Approximately one in four cases of Lyme disease
occur in children, and children ages five to nine are at the
greatest risk for contracting Lyme disease; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has ranked the highest in the
country in the number of confirmed Lyme disease cases for the
past eight years; and
WHEREAS, The blacklegged tick has been found in all 67
counties in this Commonwealth, verifying that every resident,
from Erie to Philadelphia, must take precautions to prevent the
spread of Lyme disease and tick-borne illnesses; and
WHEREAS, Residents of this Commonwealth can greatly reduce
their chance of tick bites and pathogen transmission during the
spring season by taking proper precautions while engaged in
outdoor activities, making frequent tick checks and removing and
disposing of ticks promptly and properly; and
WHEREAS, The Tick Research Lab of Pennsylvania, an East
Stroudsburg University-affiliated lab, is dedicated to providing
free, fast, highly-rated, laboratory-quality tick testing to
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residents of this Commonwealth for Lyme disease, anaplasmosis,
babesiosis, ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever; 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; and
WHEREAS, The early clinical diagnosis and appropriate
treatment of these tick-borne diseases and illnesses 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 an individual's life; and
WHEREAS, "Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Illness 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 Lyme disease and underscores important education
efforts surrounding Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of May 2021 as
"Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Illness 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
illnesses.
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