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, The Senate Committee on Administration in its
1-18     Interim Report on the Prevalence of Tick-Borne Illnesses in Texas
1-19     to the 77th Texas Legislature recommended tick-borne illness
1-20     prevention and education and Lyme disease research and test
1-21     development; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Due to a limited public understanding of the serious
1-23     nature of these easily contracted diseases, there is considerable
1-24     underreporting of tick-borne illnesses in Texas; recognizing May as
 2-1     Tick-Borne Illness Awareness Month will undoubtedly assist in the
 2-2     further education of all Texans on this important public health
 2-3     issue; now, therefore, be it
 2-4           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
 2-5     Legislature hereby recognize May 2001 as Tick-Borne Illness
 2-6     Awareness Month in the State of Texas and encourage all to learn
 2-7     more about these diseases.
                                                                     Kuempel
                                                                      Krusee
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 892 was adopted by the House on May
         9, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House