[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 43 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        S.J.Res. 43
                       One Hundred Third Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
  the fifth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-three


                            Joint Resolution

  
 
  Designating the week beginning June 6, 1993, and June 5, 1994, ``Lyme 
Disease

                            Awareness Week''.

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-nine states reported more than forty thousand cases of 
  Lyme disease from 1982 through 1991;
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; and
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

    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the week beginning June 6, 
1993, and June 5, 1994, is designated as ``Lyme Disease Awareness 
Week'', and the President is authorized and requested to issue a 
proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
such week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.







                                Speaker of the House of Representatives.







                             Vice President of the United States and    
                                                President of the Senate.