R 282

2021 -- S 0711 AS AMENDED Enacted 06/01/2021

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

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

is administered in the very early stages of disease offers the highest potential for therapeutic

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

fever, achiness and chills; 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 early 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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