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.