Senator Farley Offers Information on Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease continues to spread throughout New York State. Since 1986, about 100,000 cases have been confirmed in New York. It seems that everyone has had a personal experience with Lyme Disease or knows someone who has been infected with this illness, which in some cases can be seriously debilitating.

The New York State Senate Task Force on Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases has just issued an important report and action plan designed to enhance research, prevention, diagnosis and treatments for harmful tick-borne illnesses. The report’s recommendations focus on the need for:

     • Additional research and data about past, current and future disease trends;

     • Increased public awareness as the diseases spread to new communities;

     • Implementation of preventive measures and bait vaccines for animals to reduce the infected tick population; and

     • Measures to enhance diagnosis and treatment for those who have the disease.

This Action Plan should serve as a comprehensive roadmap for the State to help prevent additional illnesses by improving research, education, diagnosis and treatment. The State Senate secured $500,000 in the 2014-15 State Budget to support the implementation of these recommendations. The full report of the Task force is available at http://www.nysenate.gov/files/pdfs/2014_LYME_task_force_report_0.pdf .

A PDF brochure with more information on Lyme and tick-borne diseases is also attached.