Senator Pushes Legislation to Combat Growing Cases of Emerging Lyme Disease and New Tick Borne Illness

Press Release

Ulster County Has Now Surpassed Dutchess For The Most Cases Of Lyme Disease; Cases Of Emerging Illness Babesiosis Also On The Rise

Legislation Would Boost Research Of Tick-Borne Illnesses, Increase Education & Awareness So Patients And Doctors Know How To Battle Back Against Tick-Borne Diseases

Schumer: This Backyard Danger Can Pose A Big Problem

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced his support for legislation to fight back against the growing problem of Lyme disease, as well as the emerging illness known as Babesiosis, in Ulster. This summer, the number of Lyme disease cases in Ulster County has now surpassed those in Dutchess County, which previously saw more cases each year than any other Upstate New York County. In recent years, more and more cases of Babesiosis have begun showing up in Ulster County as well. The disease, which causes fatigue and flu-like symptoms, can be transmitted by the same tick right alongside Lyme disease, but the treatment for Lyme disease does not attack Babesiosis, which does not have easily identified symptoms. The Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act would help combat the new and growing epidemic by improving and expanding the federal government's efforts to contain the spread of these and other tick-borne illnesses. The bill would expand research into Lyme disease, improve education, and require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to produce a report to educate doctors and other health professionals on the latest research and treatment options for the disease. These efforts will all help both patients and doctors be more proactive in treating tick bites, and the potentially harmful infections that can result.

"We need to bring Lyme disease and Babesiosis out of the weeds and better educate the public about how to keep themselves and their families' safe," said Schumer. "Lyme disease is a problem we've seen for decades, and Babesiosis is a recently growing issue in New York, but we haven't done nearly enough at the federal level to tackle it. Tick-borne illnesses often go unnoticed for months, yet can be devastating for many victims and their families. The summertime brings about warm weather and school vacation, causing higher rates of infection in Ulster County and beyond. The tick is a little pest that can pose a big problem, and this legislation would boost research of Lyme disease and Babesiosis and increase education and awareness in the community to better fight these diseases."

"I would like to thank Senator Schumer for bringing attention and proposing solutions to this important health concern," said County Executive Mike Hein. "Lyme and other tick-borne diseases can create serious health consequences and protecting the health and well being of Ulster County residents is one of my administrations top priorities. Residents and visitors should continue to enjoy all of the wonderful outdoor spaces that Ulster County has to offer - and can do so confidently and safely by following the basic preventative steps, emphasized by our Department of Health."

"Most tick bites do not result in transmission of infection," said Ulster County Public Health Director, Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck. "Still, given that we live in an endemic area, Ulster County residents must continue to be vigilant. Simple prevention strategies can dramatically reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease and Babesiosis."

Schumer, joined by officials from the Ulster County Department of Health and County Executive's office, announced his support for The Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act, introduced by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). This legislation aims to coordinate increased research of emerging tick-borne diseases and develop educational programs for the public in order to increase awareness of these conditions. The legislation would also educate physicians on emerging tick-borne illnesses, like Babesiosis, and establish treatment plans in those cases. The legislation would establish a reporting system to advise health professionals on treatment options, and better coordinate the expertise of local health departments with the treatment of community health centers.

According to the most recent numbers from the NYS Dept. of Health, Ulster County experienced a Lyme disease rate of 201.7 per 100,000 population, which is the highest rate of Lyme disease in all of the Hudson Valley. Other counties hit rates of 193.9 in Sullivan, 176.9 in Dutchess, 172.3 in Putnam, 173 in Orange, 81 in Rockland, and 42.3 in Westchester. Lyme disease spreads across geographic areas in ticks that travel with deer Cases of an emerging illness known as Babesiosis are also on the rise.

Babesiosis is a parasitic disease that is spread by the bite of certain types of ticks, which carry microscopic parasites that can infect and destroy red blood cells in humans. Many people who are infected by Babesiosis do not show any symptoms, and doctors treating patients with tick bites do not commonly test for the illness. While the infection can be a severe, life-threatening disease, especially in people with other illnesses and the elderly, most people with normal immune systems respond well to treatment. Ticks carrying the most common type of Babesiosis, Babesia microti, are found most often in the Northeast, New York, New Jersey and parts of the upper Midwest. Transmission usually peaks during warm months.

Lyme disease is the most common of all the diseases in the United States transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks and fleas, with approximately 20,000 cases reported each year. It most commonly occurs in the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic, and North-Central states. Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Maine and Wisconsin had the most cases.

Lyme disease, though highly curable if it is detected in its early stages, is difficult to diagnose as its symptoms are similar to the common flu. The "bull's eye" rash that accompanies infection of the disease at the site of the tick bite often goes undetected especially on darker skin tones. Most cases can be treated with antibiotics when detected early, however, in the event the antibiotics do not work there is no real agreement among medical authorities and institutions over how the illness should be treated.

The Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act would aim to educate the community in order to increase awareness of tick-borne illnesses and the warning signs for such conditions, as well as educate the health community to aide in accurate diagnosis of these illnesses, especially new conditions such as Babesiosis. The legislation would increase public education through the Community Based Education Programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and create a physician-education program that includes the full spectrum of scientific research related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.

The Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act also directs the Secretary of HHS to develop more accurate and time-sensitive diagnostic tools to strengthen surveillance and reporting of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses, which would help determine prevalence of various illnesses. This provision would be particularly helpful in developing strategies to combat the spread of emerging illnesses like Babesiosis. This would provide doctors and health care professionals with the tools necessary to better diagnose and treat these illnesses in the Ulster community. Increasing community knowledge of the symptoms and treatment for tick-borne illnesses will allow both patients and physicians to be more proactive in the course of treatment, and vigilant against potential infections in the event of a tick bite.

Additionally, the legislation would establish a Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee within the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services in order to streamline coordination with other federal agencies and private organizations addressing tick-borne illnesses. Also to further improve research and education on the diseases, the legislation requires the Secretary of HHS to publish a report at the end of each advisory term evaluating published guidelines and current research available on Lyme disease, in order to best educate health professionals on the latest research and diversity of treatment options. It further requires the Secretary of HHS to submit to Congress a report on the activities carried out under this act including a copy of the most recent annual report issued by the Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee.

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