Sen. Helming to Hold Informational Forum on Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases

Senator Pamela A. Helming (R,C,I-Canandaigua) will hold an informational forum on Lyme and tick-borne diseases at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26 in the student center of Finger Lakes Community College, 3325 Marvin Sands Drive, Canandaigua. The informational forum will take place in Stage 14 on the second floor of the student center, and it is open to the public.

“Lyme and tick-borne diseases are spreading around the Finger Lakes region and throughout New York State, so it is important to bring together experts in a variety of related fields to address this issue. I am holding this forum to connect our community members with these experts so that they can have the most accurate information available,” Senator Helming said.

The speakers for the event include Dr. Matt Frye, Extension Educator for the New York State IPM Program at Cornell University; Holly Ahern, Associate Professor of Microbiology at SUNY Adirondack and Vice President of the Lyme Action Network; Dr. Cassandra Guarino, Extension Associate for Serology/Immunology for the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine; and Ontario County Public Health Director Mary Beer.

The topics to be discussed include tick identification, tick bite prevention, Lyme disease and co-infection awareness, impact on pets and livestock, and health resources that are available for individuals who have been bitten by a tick. There will also be tick removal kits available to take home, and there will be informational tables set up with more resources.

Senator Helming’s forum in Canandaigua follows a public hearing that the New York State Senate Task Force on Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases – of which Senator Helming is a member – hosted at the end of August to solicit testimony from public health experts, patients, physicians, professors, and scientists. These panels covered many subjects including: the prevalence of infections; prevention; testing protocols, standards, and challenges; research for more accurate testing and effective treatments; the need for more funding for public outreach and guidance for the medical community; co-infections and side effects such as mental health issues; obtaining adequate health insurance coverage; and how to limit the tick population and tick exposure.

“That public hearing allowed us as a task force to hear from terrific people with wide breadths of knowledge and expertise on how we can increase resources, awareness, and research for these diseases. Now, we will continue this conversation on Lyme and tick-borne diseases by holding the informational forum in the Finger Lakes region and sharing critical information on prevention and resources with our residents here,” Senator Helming said.

Senator Helming represents the 54^th Senate District, which consists of Seneca and Wayne Counties, parts of Cayuga and Ontario Counties, and the towns of Lansing and Webster. For more information, please visit Senator Helming’s website, or follow @SenatorHelming on Facebook or Twitter.

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