Johnson Advances Bipartisan Measure to Support Illinois Lyme Association’s Research and Education

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As part of his efforts to spread awareness on tick-borne diseases, state Rep. Gregg Johnson, D-Rock Island, has advanced bipartisan legislation that would provide additional support to the Illinois Lyme Association (ILA) for research and education. 

“Lyme disease, and other tick-borne diseases, are some of the fastest-growing diseases in the United States, and they can have serious negative repercussions on an individual’s life,” said Johnson. “The ILA is doing great work to help people better understand these diseases, enabling more residents to take the steps necessary to protect their health.”

House Bill 5490 is the result of collaborative efforts between Johnson and state Rep. Dan Swanson, R-Alpha, to raise awareness of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. The legislation would provide support to the ILA’s Tick Research, Education and Evaluation (TREE) Project. TREE is a joint grant program between the ILA and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources that provides tick research and educational materials. 

Various projects are already being supported by TREE, including; 

• Educational presentations to health care providers, outdoor workers, hunters and mental health professionals on Lyme and other tick-borne diseases,
• Online resources and education materials for ILA’s patient-centered blog,
• Public awareness campaigns to increase knowledge on tick-borne diseases, and
• Free tick identification programs for Illinois residents.

“More and more people every day are being affected by tick-borne diseases,” said Johnson. “We need to start raising people’s awareness, so they know what symptoms to look out for and when to seek help. Let’s help support ILA in this important mission.”

For more information on the Illinois Lyme Association, visit https://www.illymeassociation.org/.