In the wake of the first human death from Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in New York State in nearly a decade, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer visited Rockland County on Wednesday to announce a push for more federal aid to combat mosquito-borne illnesses.
Schumer is calling on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to work closely with New York State and local communities to survey and track mosquito populations. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan to fight these diseases.
The senator is also advocating for an increase in funding for the CDC’s Vector-Borne Diseases programs, which includes EEE and West Nile virus, pushing for $65 million in new federal funding. This comes as health experts warn that changing weather patterns are contributing to a rise in mosquito-borne diseases.
“Mosquito control is not something we can address once and forget about – it requires continuous attention and resources,” said Rockland County Executive Ed Day. “Securing these critical resources is vital to ensuring counties like Rockland have what we need to protect our residents from dangerous diseases.”
Schumer’s call for action highlights the growing threat of mosquito-borne illnesses across the state, but his announcement in Rockland County underscores the urgency to secure resources for local communities on the front lines.