CA ACR170

Proclaims May 2024 as Lyme Disease Awareness Month in California.

Identifies Lyme disease as a bacterial infection transmitted by infected ticks that can cause serious multi-system health problems if untreated, including neurological impairment and disability.

Notes that the CDC reports approximately 467,000 new cases of Lyme disease annually in the United States, with up to 40 percent resulting in long-term health problems.

Highlights that California has the highest concentration of distinct Lyme disease bacteria species in the United States, with infection rates in nymphal ticks reaching as high as 42 percent in some areas.

States that Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, or psychiatric illnesses, delaying proper treatment and allowing infection to progress.