MS HB318

Designates the month of May of each year as "Lyme Disease Awareness Month" to promote education and awareness of Lyme disease prevention and treatment.

Establishes the designation in response to findings that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease annually in the United States.

Notes that the Southeastern United States has more identified strains and species of Lyme disease bacteria than any other region of the country.

Recognizes that Lyme disease can affect the brain, heart, joints and other organs, often mimicking other illnesses, and that early treatment with antibiotics can cure the disease while untreated cases may lead to permanent disability or death.