Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 105 Part 1.djvu/355

 PUBLIC LAW 102-69—JULY 10, 1991 105 STAT. 327 Public Law 102-69 102d Congress Joint Resolution Designating the week beginning July 21, 1991, as "Lyme Disease Awareness Week". J' [H.J. Res. looj Whereas Lyme disease (borreliosis) is spread primarily by the bite of four types of ticks infected with the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi; Whereas Lyme disease-carrying ticks can be found across the country—in woods, mountains, beaches, even in our yards, and no effective tick control measures currently exist; Whereas infected ticks can be carried by animals such as cats, dogs, horses, cows, goats, birds, and transferred to humans; Whereas our pets and livestock can be infected with Lyme disease by ticks; Whereas Lyme disease was first discovered in Europe in 1883 and scientists have recently proven its presence on Long Island as early as the 1940's; Whereas Lyme disease was first found in Wisconsin in 1969, and derives its name from the diagnosis of a cluster of cases in the mid-1970's in Lyme, Connecticut; Whereas forty-six States reported twenty-two thousand five hundred and thirty-eight cases of Lyme disease from 1982 through 1989; Whereas Lyme disease knows no season—the peak west coast and southern season is November to June, the peak east coast and northern season is April to October, and victims suffer all year round; Whereas Lyme disease, easily treated soon after the bite with oral antibiotics, can be difficult to treat (by painful intravenous injections) if not discovered in time, and for some may be incurable; Whereas Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose because there is no reliable test that can directly detect when the infection is present; Whereas the early symptoms of Lyme disease may include rashes, severe headaches, fever, fatigue, and swollen glands; Whereas if left untreated Lyme disease can affect every body system causing severe damage to the heart, brain, eyes, joints, lungs, liver, spleen, blood vessels, and kidneys; Whereas the bacteria can cross the placenta and affect fetal development; Whereas our children are the most vulnerable and most widely affected group; Whereas the best cure for Lyme disease is prevention; Whereas prevention of Lyme disease depends upon public awareness; Whereas education is essential to making the general public, health care professionals, employers, and insurers more knowledgeable about Lyme disease and its debilitating side effects: Now, therefore, be it

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