By Kuempel                                             H.R. No. 775
         76R13568 GMW-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Tick-borne illnesses, such as ehrlichiosis, Lyme
 1-2     disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tick-borne relapsing
 1-3     fever, are easily contracted and can be extremely debilitating and
 1-4     fatal; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Anyone who ventures outdoors is susceptible to
 1-6     encountering a tick and may contract one of these diseases; if
 1-7     these illnesses are not diagnosed and treated properly soon after
 1-8     they occur, the ramifications become potentially life-threatening
 1-9     as time elapses; and
1-10           WHEREAS, Lyme disease, the most prevalent of the four
1-11     illnesses, is the fastest-growing infectious disease in the country
1-12     and the most common vector-borne disease in Texas, with cases
1-13     having been reported in every public health region in the state;
1-14     the Lone Star tick is the principal transmitter of Lyme disease in
1-15     Texas, though other known carriers are the black-legged deer tick,
1-16     brown dog tick, and cat flea; and
1-17           WHEREAS, According to the Center for Disease Control, there
1-18     were more than 16,000 reported cases of Lyme disease in the United
1-19     States in 1996 alone; and
1-20           WHEREAS, Due to a limited public understanding of the serious
1-21     nature of these easily contracted diseases, there is considerable
1-22     underreporting of tick-borne illnesses in Texas; recognizing May as
1-23     Tick-Borne Illness Awareness Month will undoubtedly assist in the
1-24     further education of all Texans on this important public health
 2-1     issue; now, therefore, be it
 2-2           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
 2-3     Legislature hereby recognize May as Tick-Borne Illness Awareness
 2-4     Month in the State of Texas and encourage all to learn more about
 2-5     these diseases.