Ben Nandy

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Oct 9, 2024, 6:06 PM

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Updated

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Sen. Chuck Schumer, Rockland County Executive Ed Day and county health officials are lobbying for more federal resources in the Hudson Valley to prevent cases of West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis, commonly known as EEE.

West Nile virus can cause fevers and fatigue.

EEE is rare. It can cause flu-like symptoms and can cause death among those with fully developed cases. An Ulster County resident recently died of EEE.

"We're launching a two-prong push to make it happen and get more help for both New York state and the Hudson Valley as we fight this serious mosquito problem," Schumer said during a news conference Wednesday outside the county Health Department.

Schumer is asking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to send experts to work with local governments to track cases and educate residents about mosquito-borne illnesses.

He is also seeking an additional $65 million for the CDC to better diagnose and better prevent cases.

Currently, Rockland health officials are asking residents to get rid of standing water near their homes, to use insect repellant and to consider traps.

"I had no idea," Rockland County resident Nanchin Kesmen said during a break from her walk at Eugene Levy Memorial Park. "I didn't spray myself with any repellant, so now I know. Tomorrow when I come out here, I'll make sure I take those precautions."

Rockland mosquito control expert Dr. Amy Isenberg said that out of 700 mosquito pools tested, none came up positive for EEE. But 212 tested positive for West Nile.

Isenberg said she also needs residents to be involved in the county's fight to curb cases in the short and long terms.

"If you have a concern and you're getting bitten by mosquitos, call us," she said. "We will try to help you find where they're coming from."

Such a service is not available everywhere.

County health officials said only about a quarter of all the state's county governments have programs devoted mosquito control. Rockland is one of them.