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A RESOLUTION supporting increased awareness of tick-borne diseases and 1
illnesses in Kentucky. 2
WHEREAS, Kentucky's landscape and scenic outdoors gift us with a beautiful 3
environment to hunt, fish, and hike, yet being in Kentucky's beautiful outdoors may put 4
an individual in contact with several different species of ticks which can carry multiple 5
life-altering diseases and illnesses; and 6
WHEREAS, tick-borne illnesses such as Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), Rocky 7
Mountain spotted fever, and Lyme disease pose a serious threat to the health and quality 8
of life of many residents of the Commonwealth, and more awareness must be brought to 9
the dangers ticks pose and prevention measures Kentuckians can take to stay healthy; and 10
WHEREAS, AGS is transmitted by the Lone Star tick, which causes an allergy to a 11
sugar molecule found in most nonprimate mammalian meat and byproducts, often 12
referred to as the red meat allergy. The allergy is lifelong, and to avoid the mild to life-13
threatening anaphylaxis, and gastrointestinal distress caused by the allergy, an infected 14
person must avoid all red meat and dairy products. Not unlike a person infected with 15
other tick-borne illnesses, life-long symptoms of AGS can include headaches, fatigue, 16
severe arthritis with swollen joints, and persistent fatigue for which there is currently no 17
cure; and 18
WHEREAS, early clinical diagnosis and appropriate treatment of these tick-borne 19
diseases and illnesses can greatly reduce the risks of continued, diverse, and chronic 20
symptoms that can affect every system and organ of the human body and impact every 21
aspect of an individual's life; and 22
WHEREAS, a recent national survey of primary care providers in the United States 23
found that 78 percent of providers have little to no knowledge of AGS, and only five 24
percent felt confident in their ability to diagnose or manage patients with AGS. Currently, 25
an AGS-specific antibody test is the only conclusive way to definitively diagnose AGS. 26
Early intervention in cases of many tick-borne diseases and illnesses can be vital in 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 1377
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preventing lifelong degenerative symptoms; and 1
WHEREAS, tick-borne disease and illness diagnoses increase every year, and with 2
the Lone Star tick's prevalence in Kentucky on the rise, the time has come for Kentucky 3
to focus on these significant and complex diseases, through dissemination of information 4
on prevention and personal protection and raising public awareness of the causes, effects, 5
potential severity, diagnosis challenges, and treatment options of tickborne diseases and 6
illnesses; 7
WHEREAS, residents of Kentucky can greatly reduce their chances of tick bites 8
and pathogen transmission by taking proper precautions while engaged in outdoor 9
activities, making frequent tick checks, and removing and disposing of ticks properly and 10
promptly, and our governmental agencies can educate the public on prevention, detection, 11
and how to be their best advocate if they suspect they have a tick-borne disease or illness; 12
and 13
WHEREAS, no Kentuckian should have to suffer from a preventable tick-borne 14
disease or illness; 15
NOW, THEREFORE, 16
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 17
Kentucky: 18
Section 1. The members of the Senate join Senator Robin Webb in continuing 19
efforts to benefit the overall health and quality of life of the residents of Kentucky by 20
supporting increased awareness of the threat of tick bites and the seriousness of tick-21
borne diseases and illnesses. 22
Section 2. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 23
Resolution to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the Department of Fish and 24
Wildlife Resources, and the Department for Public Health. 25