As Introduced 130th General Assembly Regular Session 2013-2014 H. C. R. No. 51 Representatives Patterson, Ruhl Cosponsors: Representatives Barborak, Antonio, Fedor A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION To urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to take action to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of Lyme disease. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO (THE SENATE CONCURRING): WHEREAS, Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in the United States, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating that 300,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease each year; and WHEREAS, Many cases of Lyme disease are never reported to the CDC, as only approximately 30,000 of the estimated 300,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the CDC by state health departments each year; and WHEREAS, Lyme disease can cause devastating health consequences if left untreated, such as severe pain, heart palpitations, and chronic neurological damage; and WHEREAS, Diagnosis of Lyme disease is difficult because there is no general consensus on the definition of its symptoms and the symptoms are similar to those of other conditions, leading to misdiagnoses. Furthermore, current Lyme disease testing methods often lead to inaccurate results; and WHEREAS, There remains much debate in the medical community concerning the proper courses of action for diagnosing and for treating Lyme disease; and WHEREAS, Greater knowledge of Lyme disease and its causes will put the general public in a better position to avoid contracting the disease; now therefore be it RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, in adopting this resolution, urge the CDC to take the following actions: (1) Update definitions of Lyme disease symptoms by clinical diagnosis; (2) Reconsider standards and best practices for diagnosing and for treating Lyme disease; (3) Provide more resources for health care professionals and the general public to learn about Lyme disease to aid in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease; (4) Improve the techniques that state and local public health agencies use to report cases of Lyme disease diagnoses so that fewer cases go unreported and the CDC can better monitor the incidence of the disease across the nation; (5) Provide the means for improved laboratory testing or funding for improved laboratory testing to enhance early detection of Lyme disease in humans; and be it further RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, to the President Pro Tempore and Secretary of the United States Senate, to the members of the Ohio Congressional delegation, and to the news media of Ohio.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 14:33:51 +0000
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