BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG -- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was in the North Country today, Sept. 5, to launch a two-pronged approach to combat Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile throughout the county.

In his address to local officials and media, Schumer said he would continue to advocate for advanced funding at the federal level to combat the rise of EEE and West Nile.

To date, five horses have been infected with EEE, while another horse has been identified to have tested positive for West Nile.

“Anyone who was outdoors over Labor Day weekend in the North Country knows the mosquitoes are buzzing this season. But here in St. Lawrence County people fear more than just an itch, as the region has seen an unsettling spike in EEEV cases among horses and West Nile Virus being found in many parts of the state,” said Senator Schumer.

“This mosquito season could last well into fall because of all the recent flooding and very wet summer. So, today, I am here to launch a two-pronged push to get the feds to step up efforts to help New York & local officials and surge the resources to zap these bugs and beat back these diseases before they spread.”

As part of his approach, 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 the CDC and EPA must 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 this summer and could keep seeing into the future if the trend continues.

Along with his push for the federal government to track mosquitos, Schumer is pushing for a $2 million increase for the CDC’s Vector-Borne Diseases programs, which includes EEEV and WNV.

“With five horses testing positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis across the northern part of the county, and now an additional horse that tested positive for West Nile Virus, it is clear that we need to be concerned about the mosquitoes in our area,” said St. Lawrence County Public Health Director Erin Streiff.

“Because these viruses are transmitted by mosquito bites, we are urging everyone to please take precautions to avoid being bitten. That includes limiting time spent outside between dusk and dawn when mosquito activity is higher, and wearing long sleeved shirts, pants, and socks as well as using an approved insect repellent, like one containing DEET. We appreciate Senator Schumer’s efforts to increase awareness as well as funding to address this issue and help protect our health.”

In conjunction with Public Health officials, the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce has also advocated for assistance as outdoor recreation has been a key component of multiple initiatives in recent years.

“The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce works to create a vibrant business climate that encourages growth, while building a strong and vibrant future for the generations to come. We are also advancing sustainable tourism as the Tourism Promotion Agency for our county, one that has boundless outdoor recreational opportunities. Yet the increasing incidence of mosquito-borne illnesses pose a threat to these goals and may impact many aspects of our county, from economic and business development to resident attraction, tourism, and public health," said St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ben Dixon.

So far in 2024, the state Department of Health has identified 20 human cases of West Nile virus and 1,868 WNV-positive mosquito pools including at least three  human WNV cases, two horse WNV cases, and 226 WNV-positive mosquito pools across Upstate NY.

Over the last week, local public health officials have confirmed multiple human cases of West Nile in Upstate NY, including a Jefferson County man who contracted the county’s first WNV case in more than 15 years and an adult man in Wayne County who has been hospitalized with WNV.

Though EEE is rarer, humans are susceptible to the virus as well, Streiff said.

Just recently, a New Hampshire man passed away after being infected with EEE, Schumer said.

The NYS DOH has confirmed the presence of at least fourteen cases of EEEV in horses across ten Upstate NY counties, including St. Lawrence, Madison, Oneida, Cayuga, Orange, Ulster, Wayne, Washington, Clinton, and Franklin, as well as at least nineteen EEEV-positive mosquito pools. There have been 11 human cases of EEEV in NYS since 1971 and seven of those cases were fatal. Standing at Ogdensburg City Hall, Schumer noted the “Imminent Threat To Public Health” in St. Lawrence County, which has been Upstate NY’s epicenter for mosquito-borne illness so far in 2024.

The rise in cases is a threat not only to the quality of life of North Country residents but also to tourism and recreation, Schumer said.

Schumer said while there is no commercially available vaccine for EEEV or WNV, the best protection is to prevent mosquito bites and encourage 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.”

Public Health officials suggested using products with Deet in them, such as off, while also wearing long sleeve shirts and pants when possible.

Residents are also encouraged to avoid being out during the early evening hours, as mosquitos are most likely to be active during those hours.