NYS launches new tick control plan

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday a Lyme and tick-borne disease control plan.

The plan is designed to control tick populations on public lands, increase public awareness and access to available data and create a working group to take part in a Lyme disease summit this summer.

"Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses are a major threat to the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers, and we are taking aggressive actions to help stop the spread of these disease," Governor Cuomo said. "With this control plan, New York is making a major commitment to research, awareness, and prevention of this public health crisis to keep New Yorkers safe and free of these preventable diseases."

The Governor has directed the Department of Health, DEC and other agencies to collaborate in oder to target priority counties with the highest risk of tick exposure and Lyme disease.

Tick control methods will include strategic application of eco-friendly tick control treatments and expanded use of commercial products to combat the spread of illness by rodents.