HR0350 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0350 LRB100 12308 MST 24909 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Lyme disease is a bacterial disease transmitted by infected ticks; and

WHEREAS, Lyme disease was first recognized in the United States in 1975 after a mysterious outbreak of arthritis near Old Lyme, Connecticut; since then, reports of Lyme disease have increased dramatically, and the disease has become an important public health concern; and

WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the reported Lyme disease cases are numbered at 30,000 a year in the United States, but the actual burden of Lyme disease may actually be as high as 300,000 cases a year throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS, The signs and symptoms of Lyme disease can vary greatly from one person to another; symptoms can also vary with the length of time a person has been infected; the initial symptoms of Lyme disease are similar to those of more common diseases, such as a flu-like illness without a cough or mononucleosis, and many infected persons do not recall a tick bite; further symptoms can develop over time, including fever, severe headache and stiff neck, certain heart irregularities, temporary paralysis of facial muscles, pain with numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, loss of concentration or memory problems, and, most commonly, Lyme arthritis; and

WHEREAS, Not all ticks carry the bacterium of Lyme disease, and a bite does not always result in the development of Lyme disease, however, since it is impossible to tell by sight which ticks are infected, it is important to avoid tick bites whenever possible and to perform regular tick checks when traversing in tick-invested areas of the United States, any wooded areas, or any areas with tall grass and weeds; and

WHEREAS, While Lyme disease has been associated with outdoor activities that involve being in the woods or in areas with tall grass and weeds, recent reports have connected Lyme disease transmission with the growing incidence of infestations of mice in homes, as mice carry ticks that carry Lyme disease bacterium; a single mouse may have 60 to 100 ticks covering its ears and face; and

WHEREAS, As Lyme disease is a complex illness with both acute and chronic manifestation, there continues to be a need to increase funding for Lyme disease treatment and prevention; in 2015, the first major research program devoted to the causes and cures of Lyme disease was established at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as the Lyme Disease Clinical Research Center; and

WHEREAS, Initial funding from federal grants has been able to start research known as the Study of Lyme Disease Immunology and Clinical Events (SLICE); the federal 21st Century Cures Act created a working group within the United States Department of Health and Human Services to improve outcomes of Lyme disease and to develop a plan for improving diagnosis, treatment, and prevention; however, there is still a need for more research on Lyme disease and efforts to promote awareness of its signs and symptoms; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we encourage increased awareness of Lyme disease in Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Governor, the Director of the Department of Public Health, all constitutional officers, and all members of the General Assembly in order to raise awareness of Lyme disease.