1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 887 1-3 WHEREAS, Tick-borne illnesses, such as ehrlichiosis, 1-4 Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tick-borne 1-5 relapsing fever, are easily contracted and can be extremely 1-6 debilitating and fatal; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Anyone who ventures outdoors is susceptible to 1-8 encountering a tick and may contract one of these diseases; if 1-9 these illnesses are not diagnosed and treated properly soon after 1-10 they occur, the ramifications become potentially life-threatening 1-11 as time elapses; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Lyme disease, the most prevalent of the four 1-13 illnesses, is the fastest-growing infectious disease in the 1-14 country and the most common vector-borne disease in Texas, with 1-15 cases having been reported in every public health region in the 1-16 state; the Lone Star tick is the principal transmitter of Lyme 1-17 disease in Texas, though other known carriers are the black-legged 1-18 deer tick, brown dog tick, and cat flea; and 1-19 WHEREAS, The Senate Committee on Administration in its 1-20 Interim Report on The Prevalence of Tick-Borne Illnesses in 1-21 Texas to the 77th Legislature recommended tick-borne illness 1-22 prevention and education and Lyme disease research and test 1-23 development; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Due to a limited public understanding of the 2-2 serious nature of these easily contracted diseases, and the 2-3 fact that some health care providers are still unaware that 2-4 these diseases actually exist in the State of Texas, there is 2-5 considerable underreporting of tick-borne illnesses in Texas; 2-6 recognizing May as Tick-Borne Illness Awareness Month will 2-7 undoubtedly assist in the further education of all Texans on 2-8 this important public health issue; now, therefore, be it 2-9 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-10 77th Legislature, hereby recognize May as Tick-Borne Illness 2-11 Awareness Month in the State of Texas and encourage all to learn 2-12 more about these diseases. 2-13 Bivins 2-14 Harris 2-15 ______________________________________ 2-16 President of the Senate 2-17 I hereby certify that the above 2-18 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-19 on May 3, 2001. 2-20 ______________________________________ 2-21 Secretary of the Senate 2-22 ______________________________________ 2-23 Member, Texas Senate 2-24 ______________________________________ 2-25 Member, Texas Senate