2021 -- S 0711

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LC002403

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF

HEALTH INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF ACTIVITIES THAT EXPOSE PEOPLE

TO TICKS, BETTER EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE SYMPTOMS OF LYME

DISEASE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION, AND UPDATE THEIR

FINDINGS, DATA, AND PHYSICIAN PROTOCOLS WITH REGARDS TO THE EARLY

DETECTION AND TREATMENT OF LYME DISEASE

     Introduced By: Senator Stephen R. Archambault

     Date Introduced: March 26, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     WHEREAS, Lyme Disease can be cured if detected and diagnosed early and if treatment

is administered in the early stages of disease; and

     WHEREAS, Lyme Disease shares a number of symptoms with COVID-19, including

fever, achiness and chills; and

     WHEREAS, Current diagnostic laboratory tests for Lyme Disease are available but are

not yet 100% accurate; and

     WHEREAS, Anyone who mistakes Lyme disease for COVID-19 could unknowingly

delay necessary medical treatment; and

     WHEREAS, Delays in the treatment of Lyme disease can lead to more severe and

persistent symptoms that are much more difficult to treat including neurological and cognitive

problems, potentially fatal heart problems and painful arthritis; and

     WHEREAS, Chapter 37.5 of title 5 provides for insurance coverage for the treatment of

Lyme Disease; and

     WHEREAS, Recent reports suggest that wildlife have become more bold, wandering into

suburbs and cities where human and vehicle traffic are reduced because of COVID-19; and

     WHEREAS, White-tailed deer, prevalent in Rhode Island, are an important host to

multiple human biting tick species; and

     WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies Rhode

Island as a High Incidence State for Lyme Disease; and

     WHEREAS, Awareness is a key component of preventing and treating tick-borne

disease; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of Health provides online information for

patients as well as diagnostic information and treatment protocols for physicians regarding Lyme

Disease and other tick-borne diseases on its website, now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island respectfully requests that:

     The Rhode Island Department of Health (the "Department") solicit public service

     announcements designed to increase awareness of the activities that expose people to

     ticks, inform the public as to current best practices for protection again tick bites as well

     as the symptoms of Lyme Disease and the importance of early detection and timely

     treatment; and

     That the Department regularly advise physicians to consider the possibility of tick-borne

     disease in their patients especially noting the prevalence of ticks in Rhode Island and the

     potential overlap in symptoms with COVID-19; and

     That the Department regularly advise physicians of the resources available on their

     website for diagnosis and treatment of Lyme Disease, the importance of early diagnosis

     and treatment and the latest treatment protocol for proper implementation of RIGL

     chapter 37.5 of title 5; and

     That the Department update their findings, website information, data and physician

     protocols with regard to early detection, diagnosis and treatment of Lyme Disease and

     other tick-borne illnesses based on current data from the CDC and other reliable sources

     when new information is discovered or new protocols developed but at least yearly; and

     That the Department notify physicians when findings and treatment protocols have been

     updated; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Director Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH,

Rhode Island Department of Health.

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LC002403

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