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