SPONSOR: |
Sen.
Peterson & Rep. Maier |
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DELAWARE STATE SENATE 144th GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8 |
REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY AS LYME DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH. |
WHEREAS, Lyme Disease is a common but frequently misunderstood illness that, if not diagnosed and treated early, can cause serious and chronic health problems, and
WHEREAS, Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), a spiral shaped bacterium called a spirochete, known to be transmitted in multiple ways, including but not limited to, the bite of an infected tick, blood transfusions, organ donation, in uteru and through a mother’s milk
WHEREAS, early signs of infection may include a rash and flu like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, headaches and fatigue, and
WHEREAS, Lyme Disease can be accompanied by other associated tick-borne disease including, but not limited to, babesiosis, bartonella, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which are serious co-infections; and
WHEREAS, Lyme Disease can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed early, but the disease often goes undetected or may be misdiagnosed because it mimics other illnesses; and
WHEREAS, untreated Lyme Disease and associated diseases can have devastating consequences on people infected, such as severe heart, neurological, eye, and joint impairment, since the bacteria can affect many organs and deregulates the immune system;
WHEREAS, Lyme Disease is the fastest growing vector-borne disease in the country; and can be said to be a silent epidemic
WHEREAS, health care agencies and health insurers are often unaware of the long term consequences of Lyme Disease and the need for continued treatment coverage
WHEREAS, actual cases of Lyme Disease are estimated by the federal Centers fro Disease Control and Prevention to be at least ten times higher than reported statistics due to the difficulty of diagnosis
WHEREAS,
recent data indicates
WHEREAS,
a risk assessment study by the Unites States Army reported that areas in
WHEREAS, children aged five to nineteen and persons over thirty are most susceptible to tick bites, Lyme Disease can occur at any age and awareness is an important factor in diagnosis and early treatment
WHEREAS, it is May that anew generation of nymphal ticks emerge; therefore it is fitting that the month of May be declared “Lyme Disease Awareness Month”.
NOW THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Senate of the 144th General Assembly, the House of Representative concurring therein, hereby designate May as “LYME DISEASE AWARENESSS MONTH”, and request that the Governor issue a proclamation calling upon all State Agencies and the people of the State of Delaware to observe the month of May with appropriate educational programs, ceremonies, and activities that will emphasize Lyme Disease awareness.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitably prepared copy of this resolution be
delivered to the Governor of the State of
SYNOPSIS
This Resolution proclaims the month of May as “Lyme Disease Awareness Month”, and requests the Governor to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the State of Delaware to observe the month of May with appropriate educational programs, ceremonies, and activities that will emphasize the severity of Lyme Disease and hopefully the prevention of future victims of this chronic disease. |
Author: Senator Peterson