Elected and medical officials on Monday urged the U.S. Center for Disease Control to commit funding and educational resources for Nassau County to fight the health effects of the Asian Tiger mosquito.
“The beginning of summer starts the annual battle between state and local governments and mosquitoes,” U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington) said at North Hempstead Beach Park in Port Washington. “We need all levels of government to work together to make sure that Long Islanders know how to protect themselves, and this does not turn into a serious public health issue.”
Israel said the Asian Tiger mosquito is a breed of mosquito that carries dengue fever, which can result in headaches, muscle aches and vomiting. If left untreated, dengue fever can be fatal, Israel said.
“This is a relentless mosquito,” he said.
The only case of dengue fever on Long Island was found in Suffolk County in November, Israel said.
Israel said he’s urging the CDC to commit resources to fight the mosquito before an outbreak occurs.
“We’re trying to be proactive and not have to catch up later,” he said.
The congressman was joined by U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif), Nassau County Department of Health Commissioner Lawrence Eisenstein, Dr. Bruce Hirsch of the Division of Infectious Diseases at North Shore-LIJ Health System, state Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel (D-Great Neck), Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton and Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth.
“It is crucial that the CDC continue to provide localities with its technical and financial assistance for our battle against West Nile Virus along with our latest foe here on Long Island, the Asian Tiger mosquito,” Bosworth said. “In addition to educating the public on prevention, and training our clinicians on detection, we also rely on the expertise and support of the CDC.”
Hirsch said the Asian Tiger mosquito is characterized by white stripes and its tendency to bite a person multiple times.
Hirsch said other cases of dengue fever have been found in places like Texas and California and were brought to the United States from someone who travelled to an unknown foreign country.
“This is a sign that our small world is shrinking,” Hirsch said. “Our health is affected by each other.”
Schimel said the county and the state “must do everything we can to prevent and control the spread of this mosquito-borne disease.”
Schiff called dengue fever “a greater threat” than the West Nile Virus, which is also carried by mosquitoes.
“This is a grave concern for us,” Schiff said.
Schiff said he was joining Israel in calling on the CDC because the threat of the Asian Tiger mosquito was a “bicoastal” problem.
Eisenstein touted the county’s “mosquito surveillance and control program,” in which mosquitoes are trapped in nets and are tested for diseases.
“However, we can always use more resources and public education, which is why I commend Rep. Israel for calling on the CDC to do everything in its power to help us control this issue,” Eisenstein said. “Especially in the face of a new strain of mosquito, we need all the federal resources we can get.”
DeRiggi-Whitton said she didn’t want the threat of dengue fever to stop residents and tourists from visiting Nassau County parks and beaches.
“We still want people to enjoy our beautiful area,” she said.
