Staten Islanders With Tick Woes: NY’s Senator Calls For Funding For Lyme Disease Research, Prevention, Treatment With Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act

AMID AN EXPLOSION OF LYME DISEASE CASES IN NEW YORK, GILLIBRAND CALLS FOR PASSAGE OF THE KAY HAGAN TICK REAUTHORIZATION ACT

Over 22,000 cases of Lyme disease were reported in New York State in 2023

Legislation would support research, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of tick-borne illnesses

Editor’s note: According to the NYC Dept of Health website about tick bite prevention and illnesses caused by the ticks, the largest problem areas are on Staten Island and the North Bronx.  So Staten Islanders (and residents of the Bronx) must be especially careful and vigilant when in the outdoors.  We don’t often think of our military bases as being a haven for ticks, but in those places, too, ticks can attack.  Since they hide in folds of clothing, they can be especially dangerous for military members who wear uniforms that have multiple hiding places for ticks to be carried with them.  For those of us looking to prevent tick bites, research has shown that there are multiple essential oils that are as effective, or more effective, than Off or other Deet-containing products available on the market.  It should be noted that Deet has been implicated as being potentially carcinogenic to nasal and skin tissues, as well as possibly causing seizures and Gulf War Syndrome, so residents might want to seek out alternatives to those types of chemical preparations.  Herbal Armor sells a good insect repellent that is essential oil based, or you can buy Repel, which can be found at Walmart.  If you go in the woods often, you might want to create your own essential oil blend.  The key to all of these products, including those containing Deet or essential oils, is reapplication.  At least every 20 minutes or so, after the smell starts to fade, this should be reapplied.  Islanders may want to review our previous articles on the easiest ways to remove a tick.  There are two simple ways, including the essential oils and tweezers trick, along with the shower removal trick.  Both are very easy, and usually nothing is left behind if you do it properly.  We also covered Senator Gillibrand’s previous push for reauthorization of this bill last year. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference to call for the passage of the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act, which would support research, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease. Gillibrand is also fighting to secure over $200 million for research and programs that address Lyme disease, protecting families, communities, and service members across New York.

“Tick-borne illnesses are a growing threat in New York and across the country, and we must do more to ensure that all Americans are protected,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act would help develop better treatments and preventative measures for the thousands of New Yorkers who suffer from tick-borne illnesses and for those who live in high-risk areas. Funding research and programs that address these diseases will also increase our ability to combat them. New Yorkers deserve the freedom to spend time outdoors without worrying about tick-borne illnesses, and I’m committed to getting this crucial legislation across the finish line.”

Tick-borne illnesses pose a growing threat to public health, and New York reports the highest incidence of Lyme disease in the country. Reported cases of Lyme disease in New York have skyrocketed in recent years, from about 2,200 in 2020 to over 22,000 in 2023. Areas like Suffolk County, Orange County, and Westchester County have some of the highest numbers of cases throughout the state, but cases are also rising in urban areas like New York City.

Specifically, the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act would:

1. Require HHS to continue implementing and updating its National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases in People;
2. Reauthorize Regional Centers for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases for five years; and
3. Reauthorize Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants to state health departments to improve data collection and analysis, support early detection and diagnosis, improve treatment, and raise awareness.

In addition to the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act, Gillibrand has requested over $200 million in appropriations to support research and programs that address Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. These funding requests include:

1. $30 million for the Department of Health and Human Services to implement the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act;
2. $35 million for the CDC to further its work on Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses;
3. $9 million to support the Department of Defense’s Tick-Borne Disease Research Program; and
4. $130 million for Lyme disease and tick-borne disease research at the National Institutes of Health.

The full text of the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act can be found here.

Banner Image: Clapper Hollow State Forest in New York, with banner added. Image Credit – Doug Kerr, lic by CC, and Sen. Gillibrand