July 19, 2012 (Ithaca, NY) – Lyme Disease is on the rise in Tompkins County. The number of cases has steadily increased in the past few years the Tompkins County Health Department reports. Karen Bishop, Community Health Nurse Supervisor noted that in 2006 there were 2 cases; in 2010 there were 70 and 107 in 2011. “But the actual number of cases exceeds the official count because most cases are not confirmed through a lab test,” she added.

“By May of this year, there were 45 cases in 2012 but we know that there are many more. Local physicians have called the Health Department to report they are regularly seeing patients with symptoms of Lyme Disease – much more than they have in the past, she said.” Most of the cases have been acquired locally, not from travel to other areas.

Physicians report that people often aren’t aware that they’ve been infected by a tick until symptoms appear. These may include severe fatigue, recurrent flu-like symptoms, joint swelling, facial paralysis or rash. Some people might experience a sudden red, painful, lesion on their body. They should see their provider as soon as possible; Lyme Disease is a possible cause.

Tick-borne diseases are a serious health threat. Lyme disease may affect the skin, nervous system, heart and joints. However, early treatment with antibiotics is effective.

Karen Bishop urged all Tompkins County residents to remember:

Wear light-colored clothing and tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants when walking in wooded and grassy areas. Gardeners should take these precautions also.
After every two to three hours outdoors, check for ticks on clothing or skin. Brush off any ticks on clothing before they can attach to your skin.
Do a thorough check of your body at the end of the day. Pay close attention to the back of the knees, behind the ears, scalp, arm pits and back. Check your children and pets, too.
If an attached tick is removed within 36 hours, the risk of infection is small. To remove a tick: Use tweezers, grasping the tick near the mouthparts, as close to the skin as possible. Don’t squeeze, crush or puncture the body of the tick, which may contain infectious fluids.
If you consider using repellents be sure to follow label directions. Do not allow children to apply repellents themselves. Use only small amounts of repellent on children.

To learn more about Lyme disease, call the Tompkins County Health Department at 274-6604 or visit the Department’s website: www.tompkins-co.org/health to see what a tick looks like and how to remove it.

July 16, 2012 - Governor Andrew Cuomo today urged all across the state to use extra caution, as dry weather conditions have created a heightened danger of wildfires across Upstate New York. The State is also issuing a statewide ban on residential burning for 90 days, through October 10.

“These conditions should not be taken lightly,” Governor Cuomo said. “The potential for disastrous wildfires is present in all areas of the state and we must do whatever we can to prevent fires from occurring. The State will continue to closely monitor the wildfire danger, and we will deploy whatever resources are necessary to protect New Yorkers should a critical situation occur.”

As a result of the mild winter with relatively little snowfall, as well as areas of the state which have received only 25% of the normal spring and early summer rainfall, wildfire danger across New York is heightened. Current weather forecasts predict above normal temperatures, elevating the risk.

“We hope residents will pay close attention to the Governor’s warning,” says Jessica Verfuss, Assistant Director of Emergency Response. “Conditions here, as in the rest of the state, are ideal for brush fires that can easily get out of control. We urge everyone to follow the guidelines outlined by the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Governor’s Office.”

Wildfires can start easily from many types of causes and can spread rapidly and increase quickly in intensity. The Governor urged New Yorkers to take extra caution and do the following:

· Refrain from starting any type of outdoor fire and in cases where a fire must be started, take extreme caution.

· Be watchful and keep a close eye when grilling outdoors.

· For those who smoke, make sure a lit cigarette is completely extinguished.

· When camping, use existing campfire rings when possible and keep fires small.

· Scrape away litter, duff, and any burnable material within a 10 foot diameter circle. This will keep the campfire from spreading.

· Never leave a campfire unattended.

· Drown the fire with water. Make sure all embers, coals, and sticks are wet. Stir the remains, add more water, and stir again.

· Use a cooking stove instead of a campfire to prepare meals.

The DEC’s emergency regulation implements a statewide ban on residential brush burning through October 10. Violators are subject to both criminal and civil enforcement actions. In addition, the Department is suspending all burning permits previously issued. A moratorium on new permits is now in effect through October 10.

Contact: Assistant Director Jessica Verfuss or Director Lee Shurtleff, Department of Emergency Response, 607-257-3888.