PRINTER'S NO. 2825
No. 2112 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY ROSS, E. Z. TAYLOR, BARD, BEBKO-JONES, BELFANTI,
BROWNE, BUNT, CAPPELLI, CLYMER, L. I. COHEN, COY, CREIGHTON,
CURRY, DALEY, DiGIROLAMO, FAIRCHILD, FLICK, GEIST, GEORGE,
HARHAI, HARHART, HASAY, HERSHEY, HORSEY, JAMES, JOSEPHS,
LAUGHLIN, LEDERER, MAITLAND, McCALL, S. MILLER, NAILOR,
PETRARCA, PHILLIPS, READSHAW, SATHER, SAYLOR, SCHRODER,
SEMMEL, SHANER, STEELMAN, STERN, STETLER, SURRA, TRELLO,
WASHINGTON, WATSON, WOGAN, G. WRIGHT, YOUNGBLOOD, HENNESSEY,
HARPER AND McGILL, NOVEMBER 13, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
NOVEMBER 13, 2001
AN ACT
1 Providing for Lyme disease research and prevention; and making
2 an appropriation.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Findings.
6 The General Assembly finds as follows:
7 (1) The incidence of Lyme disease and other tick-borne
8 diseases is increasing rapidly in every state in the country.
9 The Centers for Disease Control estimates a 25-fold increase
10 in reported cases nationwide.
11 (2) Although the six counties that make up the southeast
12 region of Pennsylvania (Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware,
13 Montgomery and Philadelphia) have the greatest concentration
14 of Lyme disease and other tick-borne disorders, these
1 diseases are spreading rapidly to other regions of
2 Pennsylvania.
3 (3) There is no reliable standardized diagnostic test
4 for chronic Lyme disease, and the test for acute Lyme disease
5 needs to be improved. This leads to the underreporting of
6 Lyme disease and difficulty in tracking the incidence and
7 prevalence of the disease.
8 (4) Both Lyme disease and Human Granulocytic
9 Ehrlichiosis (HGE) are transmitted to people by the black-
10 legged tick (Ixodes scapularis).
11 (5) Many health care providers lack the necessary
12 knowledge and expertise to accurately diagnose and prevent
13 Lyme disease. Physicians who routinely include Lyme disease
14 on their differential list rarely consider HGE.
15 (6) The large number of ticks infected with the HGE
16 agent suggests that HGE may also be common in Pennsylvania,
17 but remains undiagnosed. This is important because HGE is a
18 known cause of death in people. The fatality rate among
19 reported cases of HGE is 5% to 10%.
20 (7) Research in other states also suggests that
21 intractable cases of Lyme disease or cases of Lyme disease
22 with severe clinical symptoms are generally those in which
23 the causative organisms of both Lyme disease and HGE co-
24 occur.
25 (8) If diagnosed early, HGE is treatable with
26 antibiotics.
27 (9) A research project concentrating on the six counties
28 that comprise the greater Philadelphia region will provide
29 findings and applications that pertain to the rest of the
30 State in reducing the incidence of Lyme disease and other
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1 tick-borne disorders throughout this Commonwealth.
2 Section 2. Research project.
3 The Department of Health shall establish a research project
4 to be conducted by the New Bolton Center. The objectives of the
5 research project shall be as follows:
6 (1) To measure the incidence of HGE in residents in the
7 six counties of the Greater Philadelphia area (Berks, Bucks,
8 Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia).
9 (2) To determine the prevalence of infection with the
10 HGE agent in tick populations in the six southeastern
11 counties.
12 (3) To determine the feeding history of ticks infected
13 with B. burgdorferi and the HGE agent.
14 (4) To assess current recommended prevention techniques
15 for reducing the risk of tick bites and determine whether
16 they are effective or need revision.
17 (5) To develop a plan to reduce the density of I.
18 Scapularis ticks on an areawide basis by treating white-
19 tailed deer with acaricides.
20 Section 3. Appropriation.
21 The sum of $650,000, or as much as may be necessary, is
22 appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health
23 to fund the research project under section 2.
24 Section 4. Effective date.
25 This act shall take effect immediately.
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