Ritchie to Host Oswego Roundtable on Eee

Joint Ag-Health Committee Event to Feature Officials, Experts on Animal, Human Health and Prevention

State Senator Patty Ritchie will hold a roundtable forum on Thursday, Oct. 13, at 11 am, in Oswego’s County Legislature Chambers, to discuss the state and local response to Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Central New York, and to explore ways to reduce risk of the disease to humans and animals.

The event is being sponsored jointly by the Senate’s Agriculture Committee, chaired by Senator Ritchie, and Health Committee, which is chaired by Senator Kemp Hannon, and will feature state and local health officials and experts on animal and human health, and disease prevention.

The goal of the Ritchie-Hannon Senate Committees roundtable is to find ways to improve the state and local response to EEE, prevent future outbreaks in livestock and humans, and enhance communication with the public to better protect public health.

"Central New York and Oswego County are ground zero for this virus, which typically infects horses, but has tragically resulted in the death this summer of 4-year-old Maggie Wilcox," said Senator Ritchie. "This disease has the potential to significantly threaten public health and our agricultural economy."

"The public needs to hear from the experts, including state and local health officials, about steps we’re taking to prevent EEE, and steps we can take to do a better job of protecting public health and the health of our farm economy."

EEE is a mosquito-borne, often-fatal illness that affects livestock and, rarely, humans. It was first detected in New York in 1971, and has caused five human deaths—all in Oswego and Onondaga Counties—since that time.

In addition to Senators Ritchie and Hannon, confirmed speakers include top officials from the New York State Departments of Health, Agriculture and Environmental Conservation, Oswego County officials, representatives of the New York and Oswego County Farm Bureaus, and the Oswego County Soil and Water Conservation District, and a Cornell expert on veterinary health.

WHAT: New York State Senate

             Committees on Agriculture and Health

             Roundtable on State and Local Response to EEE in Central New York

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, 11 AM

WHERE: Oswego County Legislature Chambers, 46 E. Bridge St., Oswego

Click here for a copy of the official Roundtable Notice.