In war against disease-causing ticks in Suffolk, Sen. Chuck Schumer eyes $90M to combat the critters

With Suffolk County a hot spot for tick-borne diseases in New York made worse by emerging threats, some $90 million more in federal funding will be needed to boost research and develop better testing and treatments, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday.

And the senior senator and minority leader said he intends to earmark it as lawmakers hammer out a federal budget. 

The senator was joined by county officials, health experts and the survivor of a rare tick-borne disease Wednesday at West Hills County Park in Melville to announce he's seeking additional money in the 2027 fiscal budget for tick-borne disease research programs.

"We want to track, treat and tackle tick-borne disease," Schumer, who is routinely involved in shaping the federal budget, said.

The additional funding has not been appropriated yet, and the senator plans to work with members on both sides of the aisle to have it included in next year's budget as Congress completes it by the end of September.

Dr. Luis Marcos, a professor of medicine and infectious disease physician at Stony Brook Medicine, said there are more than 12 tick-borne diseases that can affect humans, including the new Bourbon virus disease that can cause severe headaches.

He said a lack of funding has delayed research into testing for rare diseases and developing more treatments and possible vaccines.

The latest data from the New York State Department of Health shows Suffolk County in 2024 recorded 3,152 reported cases of Lyme disease, the most common and well known of tick-borne diseases, which led the state. The wider region from New York City to Suffolk had 6,600 cases of Lyme disease. Schumer said many of the cases recorded in New York City are from people who were infected while visiting Suffolk County.

Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine said ticks represent a "true public health crisis," and he recounted his own experience with Lyme disease on two occasions.

"Suffolk County is the epicenter of tick disease in New York State," he said.

Schumer said the budget request includes an additional $25 million for tick-borne disease research at the National Institutes of Health as well as an additional $10 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s similar programs that include public awareness campaigns.

He said $50 million is requested as a new federal investment toward developing a clinical trials network for faster testing and improved treatments through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.

The request also includes $2 million for a Department of Defense research program.

In total, the budget request for the programs adds up to $273.5 million toward tick-borne disease treatment and research.

The 2027 fiscal year begins Oct. 1 and concludes Sept. 30, 2027.

Michael Larkin, a Shirley resident who recently discovered he was the state’s first confirmed case of the Bourbon virus disease, shared his experience from 2021. He developed a bad fever, night sweats and a headache shortly after discovering the ticks. After six days at home dealing with symptoms, he went to an emergency room and was hospitalized for five days at Stony Brook University Hospital, where he recovered.

"It’s very important to have more information, more studies and more money put into tick disease prevention," he said.

Marcos conducted research that uncovered Larkin’s diagnosis five years later. Schumer held a copy of the Newsday article featuring Larkin’s story during the news conference and said there's no commercial test, vaccine or specific treatment for the Bourbon virus disease.

"That's what makes this disease so scary," he said.

Newsday reported earlier this year the large tick population on Long Island can be attributed to the warming climate and wildlife like the white-tailed deer that carry ticks.

By Joe Werkmeister

joe.werkmeister@newsday.com

Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.

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