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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Lyme disease is a bacterial infection primarily
3transmitted by ticks that are typically found in wooded and
4grassy areas; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
6estimate that 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease in
7the United States every year; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Diagnosing Lyme disease can be difficult and many
9people who actually have Lyme disease may be misdiagnosed with
10other conditions, leading experts to believe the true number of
11cases is much higher; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Lyme disease affects people of all ages; the
13Center for Disease Control notes that it is most common in
14children, older adults, and others such as firefighters and
15park rangers, who spend time in outdoor activities and have
16higher exposure to ticks; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Lyme disease is often referred to as "The Great
18Imitator", because its symptoms mimic many other diseases; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Lyme disease can affect any organ of the body,
20including the brain and nervous system, muscles, joints, and

 

 

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1the heart; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Patients with Lyme disease are frequently
3misdiagnosed thereby delaying treatment while the underlying
4infection progresses; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Lyme disease is found all across the United
6States, with a particularly high incidence in the Midwest; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Lyme disease rates have increased significantly
8over time in part because of disease spread, but it is also
9likely that the increased rates reflect growing public
10awareness of the disease; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Nationwide, May is recognized as Lyme Disease
12Awareness Month; activists throughout the United States use it
13as an opportunity to organize walks, 5K runs, showings of Lyme
14documentaries, and other events to help educate the public and
15raise funds for research; therefore, be it
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
17NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
18designate May of 2016 as "Lyme Disease Awareness Month" in the
19State of Illinois; and be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be

 

 

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1delivered to the Governor of Illinois and all other
2constitutional officers in order to raise awareness of Lyme
3disease.