Tick-borne illnesses have reached epidemic proportions in NY state. Many of our residents are suffering life-long maladies. Many have succumbed to death. I have witnessed how the medical industry continuously overlooks the symptoms presented to them ignoring the possibility of tick-borne disease. Residents need to become their own advocates to combat misdiagnosis. Step 1 begins with testing the tick which has bitten you. It is also critical to our future health to track the areas where the infected ticks are emerging. Thangamani Lab had previously offered free tick testing submission to NY residents. Unfortunately, they have run out of resources to fund this critical project. 

My partner, Michael, was the first identified case of the Powassan virus on Long Island. POWV is a virus not a bacterium. Bacterium is easily treated when identified early on. POWV is not. It is supposedly rare but rapidly growing in numbers all along the Northeast corridor. The Powassan virus can be transmitted within 15 minutes of the initial bite. Unfortunately, there are other cases in upper NYS. Sadly, they are children. NY hospitals are not equipped to test for POWV, nor are most even aware of its existence. The Thangamani Lab was able to identify POWV in submitted ticks. We need to get ahead of this curve. We need to identify where tick diseases are emerging! I need your help!

Many of our neighbors may not have insurance. Not always will insurance even cover testing the tick. Not always can someone afford to pay $50 plus to submit each tick for testing. Especially in today's financial crunch! Imagine being a parent, knowing your child has been bitten and not knowing what the future could possibly bring? Having to decide whether you should put food on the table, heat your home or spend $50 to test one tick. We demand better! We need to be able to have the option to take control of our future. 

NYS DOH reports 7,000 plus cases of tick-borne illnesses a year. You can bet there are many more that go undiagnosed and un-reported. I live in a small village and every week I learn of one more of my neighbors suffering with a debilitating tick-borne illness. It is troubling! It is real! It can no longer be ignored.

View the Thangamani Lab's critical work here:  Thangamani Lab | Tick and mosquito borne diseases (thangamani-lab.com)

Please sign my petition. We need to gather enough signatures that those in charge will pay attention! Our NYS Governor and Legislators need to find the funding for this critical project. NYS health is at risk!