(Albany) Times Union ALBANY Despite a federal report ranking New York third in the nation for the number of Lyme disease diagnoses, not a penny has been set aside in Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s executive budget for research, prevention or treatment of the disease or other tick-borne illnesses. The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate is that the number of people nationally who contract Lyme each year is growing to nearly 500,000; state Sen. Sue Serino, a Hudson Valley Republican, and other lawmakers are urging their colleagues to include $1.5 million to tackle tick-related diseases. Serino said state funding for these efforts has been lackluster in recent years despite the Legislature adding funding for Lyme research, treatment and prevention. In 2018, $1 million was budgeted by legislators for the efforts, but in the following years that dwindled to $250,000 annually.
Calls for Budget Funding, Works to Raise Awareness
HYDE PARK, NY With this year’s Executive Budget Proposal including no funding expressly dedicated to combating the spread of Lyme and tick-borne diseases (TBDs), (TBDs), Senator Sue Serino today brought lawmakers, researchers, and advocates from across the state together at a virtual press conference to put a spotlight on the need to invest in research, education and prevention initiatives. The coalition is asking the state to commit at least $1.5 million to the cause in the final enacted State Budget.
At the event, Serino pointed to the fact that after years of fighting for acknowledgement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently updated its reporting measures and now estimates that approximately 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year, a significant increase from their previous estimate of approximately 300,000. Serino argues that with New Yorkers sp
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