DESIGNATING MAY 2026 AS "LYME DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Pettyjohn & Rep. Carson

Sens. Buckson, Hoffner, Huxtable, Pinkney, Richardson, Seigfried, Sokola, Walsh, Wilson; Reps. Berry, Bolden, Burns, Dukes, Gorman, K. Johnson, Morrison, Romer, D. Short, Kamela Smith, Spiegelman, Yearick

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 190

DESIGNATING MAY 2026 AS "LYME DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, the month of May is recognized nationally as Lyme Disease Awareness Month, providing an opportunity to educate the public and promote practices to reduce the risk of infection; and

WHEREAS, Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi; and

WHEREAS, Lyme disease is most commonly transmitted through the bite of a deer tick (Ixodes scapularis); and

WHEREAS, early symptoms may include fever, fatigue, headache, and a red bull’s-eye rash, though not everyone develops a rash; and

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that nearly 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated with Lyme disease each year, making it the most common vector-borne disease in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Delaware ranks among the top 10 states with the highest incidence rates of Lyme disease in the nation, with a reported rate of 34.7 cases per 100,000 people according to the CDC; and

WHEREAS, if not treated promptly, Lyme disease can lead to severe complications and in some cases, individuals may experience Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) with long-term symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and impaired cognitive function that may persist for months or years after treatment; and

WHEREAS, Delaware’s climate and landscape make it a breeding ground for tick populations, contributing to the elevated risk among its residents; and

WHEREAS, thanks to Delaware's Tick Program sending 1,500 blacklegged ticks to the CDC for testing, the CDC updated their Delaware maps on Tickborne Disease Surveillance. These maps now show that the tickborne illnesses of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesiosis are found in Delaware ticks; and

WHEREAS, raising public awareness about prevention, early detection, and treatment options is critical to reducing the impact of Lyme disease on individuals and families.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 153rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the Legislature affirms the importance of Lyme disease awareness and prevention and hereby designates May 2026 as “Lyme Disease Awareness Month” in the State of Delaware.

SYNOPSIS

This Senate Concurrent Resolution designates May 2026 as "Lyme Disease Awareness Month" in the State of Delaware.

Author: Senator Pettyjohn