Senator Ken LaValle Secures $75,000 In Funding To Aid The Fight Against Lyme Disease And Tick-Borne Illness on the East End

Senator LaValle also announced that a bill he sponsored to educate and increase awareness of Tick-Borne Diseases for school children will be sent to the Governor

July 13, 2016 – Senator Ken LaValle announced that he secured $75,000 in state funding to be utilized for fighting Lyme and tick-borne diseases on the East End of Long Island.  Senator LaValle, a member of the NY Senate Coalition Task Force on Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases, obtained the monies to be utilized at Southampton Hospital’s Tick-Borne Disease Resource Center.  Additionally, legislation, co-sponsored by Senator LaValle, to educate and increase awareness among students of the diseases has passed both the Senate and Assembly and will be transmitted to the Governor for consideration.

Senator LaValle said, “With the continuing high incidence of these tick-borne illnesses, we need to work to eradicate the diseases and end the transmission to individuals.  Southampton Hospital’s Tick-Borne Disease Resource Center has led the way in educational outreach for the public on both the North and South Fork.  Additionally, they support programs for elementary-aged children to make them more aware of the issues, have run medical symposia on the topic, and are participants in a National Institute of Health study for diagnosis of the Lyme disease.  I am pleased that we are able to gain state support for these vital programs.”

Robert S. Chaloner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Southampton Hospital, said, "The public need for education and access to diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne illness continues to grow on the East End.  We are grateful for Senator LaValle's assistance in obtaining a NYS grant of $75,000 for the second year in a row.  This funding will continue the mission of Southampton Hospital's Tick-Borne Disease Center to provide the best possible information and to promote collaboration within the medical community on the North and South Forks."

Senate bill S5804 , which Senator LaValle co-sponsored, would require the state to create age-appropriate educational materials that would be readily available to schools to assist students in identifying ticks, the procedures for their safe removal, and best practices for protection from ticks.  This measure was approved by the Legislature. Materials would be available to schools and libraries at no cost and would be available upon request.  The measure will be transmitted to the Governor for consideration.  Senator LaValle said, “It’s important that the state take an active role to assure that our children are well informed about prevention measures and the effects of these illnesses.”

Senator LaValle, a past Co-chair of the Senate Coalition Task Force on Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases, noted that the state has invested $1.7 million dollars for research, education and tick-borne disease prevention efforts over the past three years.

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