With the dangers of Covid-19 waning, and summer nearly upon us, another infectious disease danger remains present for our Long Island population and the region – tick-borne illnesses. Stony Brook experts have been sharing their tick expertise with the community and are available for media interviews. Luis A. Marcos, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Medicine, is available to discuss this topic and what dangers are lurking, and will increase this summer. He is actively involved in the research, diagnosis and treatment related to tick-borne diseases. Rebecca Young, RN, BSN, answers frequently asked questions about ticks as the "Help Line" nurse that receives hundreds of calls annually at (631) 726-TICK from all over the U.S. and internationally to The Regional Tick-Borne Disease Resource Center at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. In 2020, she had more than 650 conversations with people, many of whom had relocated to Long Island due to the pandemic and were unfamiliar with ticks and tick-bite prevention protocols. As key members of the Tick Resource Center's Scientific and Medical Advisory Panel, the experts helped author a free 50-page comprehensive guide called Tick-Borne Disease Reference Handbook: For Long Island and the Northeast, which details ticks and the diseases transmitted to humans, as well as tick prevention strategies. Dr. Marcos says tick-born diseases have expanded on Long Island, well beyond the noted Lyme Disease. They include: Lyme disease, Babesia, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Borrelia miyamotoi, Powassan virus, Tularemia and Borrelia lonestari. Dr. Marcos can discuss the differences between these tick-borne infections, and how the symptoms are similar or vary, as well as how Stony Brook is researching the development and changes in tick-borne infections in our region. Young can provide tips to reduce exposure to ticks, how to safely remove an attached tick, and the commitment and work of The Regional Tick-Borne Disease Resource Center. Source
