For More Information:
William R. Steinhaus
Dutchess County Executive
Telephone: (845) 486-2000, FAX: (845) 486-2021;
countyexec@co.dutchess.ny.us
June 5, 2002
Dutchess County Executive, William R. Steinhaus announced today that the
Dutchess County Department of Health in collaboration with the American Lyme
Disease Foundation (ALDF- www.aldf.com) will
be providing educational material on Lyme Disease, ticks and tick avoidance &
disease prevention strategies to Dutchess County parents through their
children’s schools. The Health Department will be distributing information
packets to all public School Districts and private schools throughout the
county. The packets contain an educational brochure and a wallet sized ‘Tick ID
Card’ supplied by the ALDF. School Districts will be distributing the packets
to each of their schools, which will then send these packets home with students
prior to the end of this school year. Each year, for several years, the Health
Department has collaborated with local School Districts to make Lyme Disease
information available through students as a part of an ongoing Lyme Disease
awareness community outreach.
County Executive Steinhaus stated, “Lyme
Disease continues to be one of the most significant public health threats in our
county. Since 1986, when it first became reportable, through the end of the
year 2000 there have been over 10,000 confirmed cases of Lyme Disease in
Dutchess. Presently, the only reliable methods of preventing Lyme are tick
control and personal protection; and both begin with awareness. Our County
Health Department has been educating health professionals and the public about
Lyme Disease since the late 1980’s as part of our County’s continuing commitment
to reducing the risk of this disease in our community.
There are reasonable, commonsense precautions that
you take to protect yourself and you’re your family against ticks and tick-borne
diseases. Dutchess County and the American Lyme Disease Foundation have a
long-standing partnership in the fight against Lyme and other tick-borne
illnesses. Again this May we are working together to help the citizens of
Dutchess County.”
David Weld, Founder and Executive Director of
the ALDF said, “The ALDF was established to raise
public awareness about ticks and Lyme Disease and to assist people and
communities in reducing both the tick population and incidence of tick-borne
diseases. We have worked closely with the Dutchess County Department of Health
for many years in this effort and we are pleased now to make this important
information available to our neighbors throughout Dutchess.”
Dutchess County Commissioner of Health, Dr. Michael C. Caldwell noted that, “With the onset of good weather both parents and children will be spending a great deal more time outdoors, which increases the risk of exposure to ticks and possibly diseases like Lyme. The upcoming summer season is a good time to increase awareness of tick avoidance and personal protection. With knowledge and practical action we can reduce exposure to ticks and the risk of disease. We hope this informational outreach project will enhance your knowledge and better prepare you to join in the ongoing fight against this disease.”
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