1-1                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 791
 1-2           WHEREAS, Tick-borne illnesses, such as ehrlichiosis, Lyme
 1-3     disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tick-borne relapsing
 1-4     fever, are easily contracted and can be extremely debilitating and
 1-5     fatal; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, Anyone who ventures outdoors is susceptible to
 1-7     encountering a tick and may contract one of these diseases; if
 1-8     these illnesses are not diagnosed and treated properly soon after
 1-9     they occur, the ramifications become potentially life-threatening
1-10     as time elapses; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Lyme disease, the most prevalent of the four
1-12     illnesses, is the fastest-growing infectious disease in the
1-13     country and the most common vector-borne disease in Texas, with
1-14     cases having been reported in every public health region in the
1-15     state; the Lone Star tick is the principal transmitter of Lyme
1-16     disease in Texas, though other known carriers are the black-legged
1-17     deer tick, brown dog tick, and cat flea; and
1-18           WHEREAS, According to the Center for Disease Control, there
1-19     were more than 16,000 reported cases of Lyme disease in the
1-20     United States in 1996; new hope for combating the disease surfaced
1-21     in December, 1998, when the Food and Drug Administration approved a
1-22     vaccine for those ages 15 to 70 that in most cases will prevent
1-23     Lyme disease; and
1-24           WHEREAS, Due to a limited public understanding of the
 2-1     serious nature of these easily contracted diseases, there is
 2-2     considerable underreporting of tick-borne illnesses in Texas;
 2-3     recognizing May as Tick-Borne Illness Awareness Month will
 2-4     undoubtedly assist in the further education of all Texans on
 2-5     this important public health issue; now, therefore, be it
 2-6           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
 2-7     76th Legislature, hereby recognize May as Tick-Borne Illness
 2-8     Awareness Month in the State of Texas and encourage all to learn
 2-9     more about these diseases.
2-10                                                                  Bivins
2-11                                  ______________________________________
2-12                                          President of the Senate
2-13                                       I hereby certify that the above
2-14                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
2-15                                  on May 4, 1999.
2-16                                  ______________________________________
2-17                                          Secretary of the Senate
2-18                                  ______________________________________
2-19                                           Member, Texas Senate