TRENTON – The Senate today gave final approval to a resolution, AJR-64/SJR-32, sponsored in the Senate by Senators Fred Madden and Dana Redd, to designate May as “Lyme Disease Awareness Month” in New Jersey.
“Our goal is to encourage prompt detection of Lyme Disease infection so those afflicted get treated and avoid exposure later on to serious neurological disorders,” said Senator Madden, D-Gloucester and Camden.
“Federal studies have indicated that New Jersey may be experiencing new cases of Lyme Disease at a rate of about 25,000 a year,” said Senator Redd. “May is a good month to focus on the dangers of Lyme Disease because it’s when the warmer weather arrives and people start going outdoors more and more.”
Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection spread primarily through tick bites. It can be treated with antibiotics, but if undetected, can lead to chronic fatigue, encephalitis, meningitis, memory loss, cardiac dysfunction, paralysis, stroke and even death.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New Jersey ranks third in the number of Lyme Disease cases annually behind New York and Pennsylvania.
The measure was approved 39-0 and now goes to the Governor for enactment.