DELAWARE STATE SENATE

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 190

RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER 2024 AS "AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, autoimmune diseases are caused when the body’s immune system attacks its healthy tissues and organs. They are chronic, potentially disabling diseases; and

WHEREAS, autoimmune diseases can affect any part of the body, including the skin, joints, connective tissues, blood vessels, muscles, endocrine glands, and multiple-organ systems, and can be life threatening; and

WHEREAS, there are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases and many of them share similar symptoms. Some diseases carry an increased likelihood of people having multiple autoimmune diseases; and

WHEREAS, the most common autoimmune diseases are type 1 disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohn’s, psoriasis, and scleroderma; and

WHEREAS, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates autoimmune diseases are among the most prevalent diseases in the U.S., affecting more than 23.5 million Americans and that the prevalence is rising; and

WHEREAS, 50 million Americans have been diagnosed with one or more autoimmune disease with the greatest prevalence occurring in women at a rate of 2 to 1; and

WHEREAS, according to NIH, autoimmune disease is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in American girls and women up to 64 years of age; and

WHEREAS, the Institute of Medicine reports that the United States is behind other countries in research related to immune system self-recognition, the process involved in autoimmune disease; and

WHEREAS, diagnostic testing for most autoimmune diseases is not standardized, making autoimmune disease very difficult to diagnose; and

WHEREAS, NIH estimates annual direct health care costs for autoimmune disease to be in the range of $100 billion; and

WHEREAS, there is a significant need for research focusing on the etiology of all autoimmune-related diseases, in order to increase understanding of the root causes, rather than treating symptoms after the disease has already had its destructive effect; and

WHEREAS, designating November 2024 as “Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month” in the State of Delaware will help educate the public about autoimmune diseases and the need for research funding, accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that November 2024 is recognized as “Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month” in the State of Delaware.

SYNOPSIS

This Senate Concurrent Resolution recognizes November 2024 as "Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month" in the State of Delaware.

Author: Senator Hocker