Bill Text: PA SR294 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Designating the month of May 2012 as "Lyme Disease Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2012-04-30 - Introduced and adopted [SR294 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-SR294-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 2134
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 294 Session of2012
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, FARNESE, KASUNIC, BROWNE, BAKER, FONTANA, PIPPY, ERICKSON, SCARNATI, M. WHITE, RAFFERTY, TARTAGLIONE, PILEGGI, GORDNER, COSTA, DINNIMAN, D. WHITE, BOSCOLA, SOLOBAY AND ALLOWAY, APRIL 30, 2012
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, APRIL 30, 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
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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
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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 Senate 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.
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