Commonwealth of Massachusetts
A Proclamation
His Excellency Governor Deval L. Patrick

Whereas Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by spirochetal bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, which is carried by deer ticks, and our understanding of these complex organisms is incomplete; and

Whereas Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the United States; and

Whereas The number of reported cases of Lyme disease in Massachusetts has dramatically increased and reported cases only represent a proportion of all individuals exposed to or diagnosed with Lyme disease; and

Whereas If it is not treated early, Lyme disease can infect every part of the body and cause a wide variety of symptoms requiring medical practitioners to have familiarity with its various clinical presentations; and

Whereas In Massachusetts, the carriers of Lyme disease, deer ticks, can also carry the co-infections, such asbabesiosis and human granulocytic analplasmosis and erlichiosis; and

Whereas There are multiple protective and preventative actions that can be taken by individuals to reduce exposure and infection; and

Whereas Through public awareness and physician education, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts seeks to minimize the devastating effects of Lyme disease among all Massachusetts citizens,

Now, Therefore, I, Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim May 2013, to be,

LYME DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH

And urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this twenty-first day of March, in the year two thousand and thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and thirty-sixth.

By His Excellency

Deval L. Patrick
Governor of the Commonwealth

William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth

God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts