April 28, 2015, McLean, Virginia – The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has proclaimed May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month. The National Capital Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Association (NatCapLyme) is grateful to the Board of Supervisors for its continual commitment to raise awareness about Lyme and tick-borne diseases.

Lyme disease is regarded by the CDC as the fastest spreading vector-borne infectious disease in the United States today. Over 300,000 cases were reported by the CDC last year. Virginia is considered to be in the top 12 states for reportable cases of Lyme. NatCapLyme believes greater public awareness of this disease fosters better prevention and early detection.

According to Monte Skall, the executive director for NatCapLyme, “This proclamation is of great benefit to the citizens of Fairfax County. This measure creates official recognition of the problem and encourages Virginians to learn about these diseases, treat tick-borne diseases seriously, take aggressive preventative measures, and seek early treatment. With this proclamation, organizations such as ours plan to make May a focal time-point of county-wide public education and awareness about tick-borne diseases.”