Schumer is pushing for ways to combat mosquito-borne diseases

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is proposing a two-pronged approach to combat mosquitoes that can transmit the deadly Eastern equine encephalitis virus.

Standing in front of a lab studying mosquito-borne diseases at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, Schumer called on the federal government to coordinate state and local plans to track the disease-carrying insects.

“I want the federal government, particularly the CDC, the Centers for Disease Control and the EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency, to increase their coordination efforts to help New York and local authorities,” Schumer said.

He said that as national organizations, the CDC and EPA have a unique ability to reach beyond state lines.

“EPA is doing more research into how these mosquitoes and diseases spread,” he said. “They can also deliver supplies like mosquito traps to the central governments of New York and do many other things under this program. They’re pretty flexible about it.”

Schumer also wants to provide an additional $65 million for the CDC's vector-borne disease program. These funds can coordinate research and help local communities combat mosquitoes.

Dr. Saravanan Thangamani, part of the Upstate team that studies mosquito-borne diseases, said the additional attention is welcome, especially at a time when global warming may make matters worse.

“Warmer temperatures can increase the reproduction rate of mosquitoes, the main vectors of West Nile virus,” Thangamani said. “High temperatures can also shorten the incubation period of the virus in the mosquitoes, increasing the likelihood of transmission. And changes in rainfall patterns can also create more standing water, ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.”

Schumer's push comes after the first human death from electrical and electronic equipment in New York since 2015 and several other human cases of the virus in Jefferson, Wayne and Clinton counties.