State legislation recently signed into law could help speed the discovery of potentially life-saving vaccines for deadly diseases including eastern equine encephalitis, the mosquito-borne virus …
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State legislation recently signed into law could help speed the discovery of potentially life-saving vaccines for deadly diseases including eastern equine encephalitis, the mosquito-borne virus that’s claimed several St. Lawrence County horses’ lives, according to Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton.
She was one of the bill’s sponsors, and has been fighting for legislation aimed at combatting the disease.
The measure creates a new “21st Century Workgroup for Disease Elimination and Reduction” within the state Department of Health, Ritchie said.
Comprising experts in diseases, infection and public health, the group is tasked with identifying obstacles that may be preventing development of effective vaccines for EEE and other diseases, including West Nile virus, Lyme disease, tuberculosis and more.
The group’s efforts are being funded with $100,000 included in this year’s state budget, and is to report its findings by the end of the next year, and in subsequent years, Ritchie said.
An animal vaccine has existed for years, but no similar treatment is available for humans. All the human deaths from EEE have occurred in Oswego and Onondaga Counties in central New York.
Ritchie represents the 48th Senate District. It includes northern St. Lawrence County from Ogdensburg to Hammond and down to Fowler, along with Canton and Gouverneur.