SCHUMER: WITH UPSTATE NY SEEING MAJOR UPTICK IN DEADLY MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESSES, INCLUDING FIRST HUMAN EEEV FATALITY IN NY IN YEARS, SCHUMER STANDS AT SUNY UPSTATE’S VECTOR BIOCONTAINMENT LABORATORY IN SYRACUSE AND ANNOUNCES TWO-PRONG PUSH TO BOOST COORDINATION WITH FEDS AND INCREASE FUNDS TO BEAT BACK BUG & DISEASES
Following First Human EEEV Fatality In NYS Since 2015 When A CNY Resident Tragically Died, And Concerns Of Rise In EEEV, West Nile & Other Mosquito Diseases In Humans, Horses & Other Animals—Schumer Says Fed Research & Resources Are Key To Keeping Communities Safe
Schumer Will Call On Feds To Increase Coordination With NYS To Identify & Monitor Mosquitoes, Pushes To Increase Vector Funds To Target Mosquito Pools, Educate Public & Beat Back Diseases Endangering Residents
Schumer: As Changing Climate Causes Hotter And Wetter Summers Across NYS, Feds Must Be Ready To Help Track & Zap NY’s Growing Mosquito Population To Keep CNY Safe
With growing concern for mosquito-borne illness across New York State following the first human death from Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV) in nearly a decade, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer today stood at SUNY Upstate Medical University on the doorstep of the SUNY Center for Vector Borne Disease’s Vector Biocontainment Laboratory and announced his two-pronged push to combat what experts fear is one of the worst mosquito seasons New York State has seen in recent memory.
First, Schumer said he is calling on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which works in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to ensure coordination and outline a plan for working with New York State and local communities to survey and track mosquitoes. Schumer said it is vital the CDC and EPA make sure communities have the resources they need to deal with the new threats that the mosquito population brings, like the surges in mosquito-borne illnesses we are seeing and could keep seeing into the future if the trend continues. Second, Schumer said he is pushing to surge funding for the CDC’s Vector-Borne Diseases programs, which includes EEEV and West Nile, with $65 million in new funding and is critical especially as we see increases in these diseases due to changing weather.
“Mosquitoes are buzzing this season, but folks here in Central NY have been fearful of more than just an itch. Across New York, we have seen an unsettling spike in cases of EEEV among horses and West Nile Virus, and tragically just last month we had our first death from EEEV since the last death of a Central NY-er almost a decade ago,” said Senator Schumer. “This mosquito season could last well into fall because of all the recent flooding and a very wet summer. Today, I am here to launch a two-pronged push to get the feds to step up efforts to support New York & local officials and surge the resources to zap these bugs and beat back these diseases before they spread.”
Schumer explained that Central NY and surrounding areas have been abuzz with EEEV-positive and WNV-positive mosquito pools this year. With a surge of this magnitude, it is critical for federal, state, and local officials to work together to ensure that Central New York has the support it needs and residents are given the best information possible to keep themselves and their families safe from these deadly viruses. The Senator said it is particularly important for members of the community to be educated on where the hotspots for these dangerous, virus-carrying mosquitos are, to take precautions to avoid those areas and minimize risk of exposure to these pests.
In Onondaga County, public health officials have warned the community about EEEV-positive and WNV-positive mosquito pools around the Town of Cicero and conducted aerial spraying to neutralize as many infected mosquitos as possible. Schumer highlighted the Cicero Swamp, which is notorious for its large mosquito population, as a key hotspot in the county causing local concern. In nearby Oswego County, public health officials have reported EEEV-positive mosquito pools around the Town of Palermo, Village of Central Square, Town of Hastings, Town of Albion, Town of Constantia, and Town of West Monroe, as well as WNV-positive mosquito pools around the Town of West Monroe, Town of Constantia, Village of Central Square, and Town of Hastings. Officials have warned that mosquito pools in areas of Oswego County around Oneida Lake, such as Toad Harbor and Big Bay Swamp, have tested positive for mosquito-borne illnesses.
“With the Cicero Swamp, which is notorious for having a lot of mosquitoes, so close to Syracuse and the area seeing an unsettling spike in EEEV and West Nile cases among mosquitoes, we need to ensure that Central New York has all the federal support it needs to keep the community safe,” added Senator Schumer.
Schumer said that SUNY Center for Vector Borne Disease’s Vector Biocontainment Laboratory is a one-of-its-kind research facility that examines the threat of vector-borne illnesses – carried by mosquitoes and ticks – on public health. Schumer explained that the laboratory is conducting critical research to study these illnesses and how they can be prevented and cured. Last year, the senator secured a $898,000 federal grant to cover some of the design, construction, and equipment costs associated with establishing the center.
“Upstate Medical University has carved out a leading role in broadening the understanding and treatment of vector-borne diseases. From the work of Upstate’s Dr Stephen Thomas, Dr Adam Waickmen and Dr Saravanan Thangamani and others, along with our Global Health Institute and our Vector Biocontainment Laboratory, we are targeting these diseases with our research, especially as these life-threatening and debilitating diseases become more prevalent,” said Upstate President Mantosh Dewan, MD. “We deeply appreciate Senator Schumer’s leadership and partnership in addressing this significant health priority, as well as his stalwart support of SUNY Upstate and the Thangamani lab.”
“ESF thanks Senator Schumer for his tireless efforts in Washington to ensure that we have the resources necessary to study, assess, and respond to emerging and persistent public health issues including Lyme Disease, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and West Nile,” said SUNY ESF President Joanie Mahoney. “Led by the great work of Dr. Brian Leydet, ESF stands ready to partner with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the DEC, the DOH, our partners at UpState and local officials to assist communities throughout New York in doing the field work and analysis necessary to ensure that wildlife and the public are protected from these harmful illnesses.”
Schumer explained that thus far in 2024, the NYS Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed at least 64 human cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) and 2,137 WNV-positive mosquito pools, including at least 12 human WNV cases, seven horse WNV cases, and 277 WNV-positive mosquito pools across Upstate NY. In recent months, state and local public health officials have confirmed multiple human cases of WNV across Upstate NY, including a Jefferson County man who contracted the county’s first WNV case in more than 15 years, a man in Wayne County who was hospitalized with WNV earlier this month, and most recently a man hospitalized with Clinton County’s first case of WNV this year.
EEEV is a rare but nonetheless deadly viral disease spread by mosquitoes that can affect people and horses. A man in Ulster County died after contracting the virus just last month. The NYS DOH has also confirmed the presence of at least 18 cases of EEEV in horses across twelve Upstate NY counties as well as at least 33 EEEV-positive mosquito pools. There have been 11 human cases of EEEV in NYS since 1971 and seven of those cases were fatal. Just last week New York State declared an imminent threat to public health for the rise in mosquito-borne illnesses.
Schumer said given this major surge in mosquito activity it is imperative entities like the CDC and EPA engage to help New York State and localities ensure they have the tools and data they need to keep the public informed and safe, and develop plans to combat spikes like this which often impact multiple states. The funding increase Schumer is pushing for in the VBD program would bolster coordination between academic institutions and state and local health departments to ensure information is getting to the community.
Schumer has also written to the EPA, urging them to work in conjunction with NY state to ensure local governments, public health officials, and healthcare providers have a consistent supply of mosquito control tools and information to protect the public. The increase in funding would allow New York to access additional resources if the season intensifies or lasts longer than expected. For example, Schumer said the CDC in other large mosquito outbreaks in the past has worked closely with states to assist them with mosquito testing for EEEV and West Nile virus and can provide other critical access to data and resources for response to emerging threats.
Schumer explained that the surge in mosquito populations and deadly mosquito-borne viruses like EEEV and WNV also endanger tourism, recreation, quality of life, and more for communities in Syracuse, Central New York, and across Upstate NY. Schumer said while there is no commercially available vaccine for EEEV or WNV, the best protection is to prevent mosquito bites and encourages New Yorkers to stay safe and closely monitor public health warnings.
Schumer said, “Prevention is the best way people can protect themselves from exposure to mosquito-borne illness. When you are outdoors, consider wearing clothes to cover your skin and effective mosquito repellent.”
You can find guidance on EEEV surveillance and control here and more information on how individuals can protect themselves here.
You can find a copy of Schumer’s letter to the CDC linked here and EPA here.
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