Sponsored by:
Senator FRED H. MADDEN, JR.
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
Senator DANA L. REDD
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Baroni
SYNOPSIS
Designates May of each year as “Lyme Disease Awareness Month.”
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating the month of May of each year as “Lyme Disease Awareness Month.”
Whereas, Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread by certain arthropods, primarily ticks, and is a significant public health problem in New Jersey; and
Whereas, If untreated, Lyme disease, in its later stages, can result in neurological disorders including, but not limited to, chronic and severe fatigue, encephalitis, meningitis, memory loss, dementia and seizures, severe arthritis, cardiac dysfunction, vision loss, gastrointestinal disorders, paralysis, death and stroke; and
Whereas, New Jersey has a disproportionately large share of the nation’s total number of reported Lyme disease cases; according to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2,432 new cases of Lyme disease in New Jersey were reported in 2006, which represented the third highest incidence rate after New York and Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, The CDC states that only 10% of cases meeting its surveillance criteria are actually reported; thus, using this estimate, some 24,320 new cases of Lyme disease may have occurred in New Jersey in 2006; and
Whereas, Although Lyme disease has received increased public attention in the last decade, it is still frequently misdiagnosed and is much more problematic to treat once it has spread and caused serious, permanent and life-threatening conditions; and
Whereas, While Lyme disease can be difficult to treat, it can be prevented if certain precautionary steps are taken, including wearing long sleeves, tucking pants into socks when in a wooded area and using insect repellent; and
Whereas, Increased public awareness can help the State to combat this public health problem by encouraging the prevention of the disease and ensuring its early detection and proper treatment; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The month of May of each year is designated as “Lyme Disease Awareness Month” to recognize the importance of prevention, early detection and effective treatment of the disease throughout the State.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing May as "Lyme Disease Awareness Month" in New Jersey and calling upon public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This Senate joint resolution declares May of each year as “Lyme Disease Awareness Month” to recognize the importance of prevention, early detection and effective treatment of this disease throughout the State.