With summer around the corner, Sen. Chuck Schumer is calling on the federal government to help New York fight ticks and prevent tick-borne diseases.
Health officials are warning of a tick explosion in the tri-state area due to a mild winter.
"We have the law to stop the spread of Lyme disease, but the federal government is moving at a snail's pace," said Schumer during a press conference at Central Park on Sunday.
Deer ticks carry Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that can cause long-term neurological problems if not treated on time.
Schumer, who got Lyme disease but treated it early, referred to the legislation that he helped pass last year which focuses on better ways to diagnose and treat Lyme disease.
"Why isn't there a vaccine yet?" he said.
Schumer also called on the secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Price, to "diagnose, treat and prevent tick-borne disease," and to "do it fast."
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Another disease worse than Lyme that can also be transmitted is the Powassan virus, in which victims need to be hospitalized immediately as massive brain swelling and death can result.
In 2015, there were 331 cases of Lyme in Brooklyn, followed by 326 cases in Manhattan, and 256 in Suffolk County, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
