Law mandates Lyme education materials for school children

When you're dealing with the complex pathology associated with Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, sometimes the educational materials can be a bit dense.

But now, the state health and environmental conservation departments will be creating pamphlets and other materials specifically aimed at children, under a new law authored by state Sen. Sue Serino, R-Hyde Park, and sponsored by Assemblywoman Didi Barrett, D-Hudson.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo Thursday.

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"As the mother of a son who still suffers the debilitating symptoms of Lyme after being bitten by a tick as a child, I know first-hand just how important it is to provide our children with the information they need to keep themselves safe,” Serino said in a statement.

Lyme affects 300,000 people annually nationwide, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the mid-Hudson Valley has had a disproportionately high disease rate over the years.

The materials are required to be available, but teachers in New York would not be mandated to teach them.

"As a first line of defense against Lyme and (tick-borne diseases)," Serino said, "it is absolutely critical that we give our kids the tools they need to recognize a tick and teach them what to do should they find one.”

John Ferro: 845-437-4816; jferro@poughkeepsiejournal.com; Twitter: @PoJoEnviro