WHEREAS, there are nearly 7,000 diseases and conditions considered rare, with each affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health; and

WHEREAS, while each of these diseases may affect small numbers of people, rare diseases as a group affect almost 30 million Americans and many rare diseases are serious and debilitating conditions that have a significant impact on the lives of those affected; and

WHEREAS, while more than 450 drugs and biologics have been approved for the treatment of rare diseases, according to the Food and Drug Administration, millions of Americans still have rare diseases for which there is no approved treatment; and

WHEREAS, individuals and families affected by rare diseases often experience problems such as diagnosis delay, difficulty finding a medical expert, and lack of access to treatments or ancillary services; and

WHEREAS, Rare Disease Day in Nevada is an opportunity to increase awareness and recognize patients, caregivers, medical professionals, researchers and companies developing products and treating rare diseases;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, STEVE SISOLAK, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do hereby proclaim February 29, 2020 as

RARE DISEASE DAY IN NEVADA