THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY HELM, PHILLIPS, HESS, ARGALL, BAKER, BELFANTI, BENNINGHOFF, BEYER, BOBACK, BOYD, BRENNAN, CAUSER, CLYMER, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, DELOZIER, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, D. EVANS, EVERETT, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GROVE, GRUCELA, HARKINS, HARRIS, HENNESSEY, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, M. KELLER, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, MAJOR, MARKOSEK, MARSICO, McCALL, MELIO, MENSCH, MILLARD, MILLER, MOUL, MURT, MUSTIO, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER, PAYNE, PEIFER, PICKETT, PYLE, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROHRER, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STABACK, STERN, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WALKO, WATSON, WHEATLEY, WHITE AND CALTAGIRONE, MARCH 24, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 24, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Declaring the month of May 2009 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 common way to acquire Lyme disease is to be

bitten by a tick that carries the spirochete; and

WHEREAS, The prevention of Lyme disease and other tick-borne

disorders is difficult; and

WHEREAS, If proper caution is taken while engaged in outdoor

activities from early spring through late fall, as well as

during a warmer winter season, frequent tick checks are made and

ticks are removed and disposed of promptly and properly, the

people of this Commonwealth can greatly reduce their chances of

tick pathogen transmission; 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

which can affect every system and organ of the human body and

often every aspect of their lives; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives declare the month

of May 2009 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.