Schumer calls for federal government to implement laws to combat Lyme disease

SALINA, N.Y. — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other tick-borne disease experts predict that this summer “could be one of the worst when it comes to the population of ticks.”

That’s according to the office of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.).

Schumer says the federal government last December approved new laws that could help combat the spread of Lyme disease.

Speaking at Onondaga Lake Park on Friday, the Democrat urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to “fully implement” the new laws.

The measures that Schumer is referring to are part of the “21st Century Cures Act,” according to Schumer news release.

Any delay in federal action will allow newly emerging disease like Powassan, which is “even deadlier” than Lyme disease, to impact “already vulnerable” areas like Syracuse, Oswego and the rest of Central New York, Schumer noted.

Under the bill, HHS must coordinate federal activities related to tick-borne diseases and conduct or support activities related to tick-borne diseases.

The activities include surveillance; research on strategies for the control of ticks; exploring causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of tick-borne diseases; epidemiological research; and determining the gaps in existing research.

In his remarks, Schumer then posed the question … Why are they waiting?

“No good reason. Just bureaucracy. Maybe they don’t want to spend the money. Maybe they don’t understand … the new secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Price … how serious this illness is, but he’s a doctor. He should understand.”

Schumer pointed to the nearly 1,000 reported Lyme disease cases over the past 15 years in Central New York, more that 80 percent of which occurred since 2008, as a clear indication that the region is in “dire need” of federal assistance and guidance.

Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium and is spread to humans through the bite of an infected deer tick, Dr. Indu Gupta, Onondaga County Commissioner of Health, said in her remarks at Onondaga Lake Park.

“Early detection and treatment is the key in addressing Lyme disease,” Gupta added.

Lyme disease begins as a rash at the location of the tick bite. It then spreads to the nervous system and joints.

With early diagnosis, Lyme disease is cured almost 100 percent of the time, Schumer’s office said.

The disease is “most prevalent” on the Upper East Coast and Midwest, especially in “densely wooded areas with an aptitude for humidity,” it added.

 Joining Schumer and Gupta at the Friday event were Martha Conan of Camillus, a member of the Empire State Lyme Disease Association and a Lyme sufferer; Quentin Wheeler, president of SUNY College Environmental Science & Forestry (ESF) and Melissa Fierke, professor of environmental and forest biology at SUNY-ESF.

Fierke recently led a team of researchers looking at the density of black-legged ticks and prevalence of Lyme disease in Onondaga County.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com