093_HR0236

 
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 1                          HOUSE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, Lyme Disease is the most common tick  borne  and
 3    vector borne disease in the United States; and

 4        WHEREAS,  Lyme Disease is primarily spread by the bite of
 5    several types of ticks infected with the  bacterium  Borrelia
 6    burgdorferi,  and  disease-transmitting  ticks  can  be found
 7    across the country,  including  Illinois,  in  woods,  parks,
 8    beaches, and yards; Lyme Disease can also be carried into new
 9    areas by a wide variety of animals and birds; and

10        WHEREAS,  The  early indicators of infection are flu-like
11    symptoms and/or an enlarged rash, which may not appear or may
12    be missed, allowing the  disease  to  disseminate  and  cause
13    serious,  permanent  and sometimes life threatening damage to
14    the brain, joints, heart, eyes, liver, spleen, blood vessels,
15    and kidneys; and

16        WHEREAS, The bacterium can cross the placenta and  infect
17    a developing fetus; and

18        WHEREAS, Lyme Disease is difficult to diagnose because it
19    imitates  other conditions and there is no reliable test that
20    can prove who is infected or  who  is  bacteria  free,  which
21    often leads to misdiagnosis; and

22        WHEREAS,   Lyme  Disease  is  most  easily  treated  when
23    diagnosed early and is more difficult to treat if  discovered
24    after   dissemination  occurs,  making  early  detection  and
25    treatment more important; and

26        WHEREAS, The best solution to the threat of Lyme  Disease
27    is  educating  people  about the seriousness, prevention, and
28    early detection of all tick borne diseases as well as showing
29    more compassion towards patients and their families; and

30        WHEREAS,  People  still   need   to   practice   personal
 
                             -2-     LRB093 11448 KEF 14733 r
 1    protection  techniques  to  prevent  other  tick  transmitted
 2    diseases  such  as Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis, Tulameria, Rocky
 3    Mountain Spotted Fever, Tick Paralysis, Colorado Tick  Fever,
 4    and Relapsing Fever; and

 5        WHEREAS,  Lyme  Disease victims, families and friends are
 6    demonstrating their support for a cure in the first  National
 7    "Walk Against Lyme Disease" to be held on May 17, 2003 in New
 8    Lenox, Illinois; therefore, be it

 9        RESOLVED,   BY   THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE
10    NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,  that
11    we  proclaim  May  2003  as  Lyme  Disease Awareness Month in
12    Illinois.