A county-wide tick bite prevention education campaign kicks off today at libraries across Suffolk, where experts will provide information
to help educate school-age children and parents about preventive measures they can take to reduce the risk of tick bites.
Throughout the summer, Suffolk County health department staff will hold “tick-talk” presentations at 10 local libraries and will be disseminating information about ticks and the diseases they cause at an additional 14 libraries throughout Suffolk County. (See below for a list of dates and times for participating local libraries.)
Participants will learn about the variety of ticks found in Suffolk County, the diseases caused by ticks, protective measures that prevent tick bites, proper tick removal techniques, and steps to take if bitten. Among the diseases carried by ticks on Long Island are Lyme disease, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. In 2017, Suffolk County reported 523 cases of Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne disease in the country. However, the number of cases of tick-borne diseases reported to New York State may not reflect the total number of cases as it is likely that there are many more cases that go undiagnosed for a variety of reasons.
To raise awareness in Suffolk County’s outdoor venues, health department staff has acquired and delivered 500 tick awareness trail signs to Suffolk County parks.
“In addition to our seasonal outreach, the tick bite prevention education campaign includes a tick-borne disease newsletter and slide presentation in both English and Spanish, all of which can be downloaded from our website and distributed or used for educational purposes,” Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. James Tomarken said.
Suffolk County 311 will begin providing up-to-date information to callers on tick avoidance, protection and responding to bites, as well as to collect information from residents seeking to provide locations of active tick locations. Data will be shared with impacted local governments.
The Suffolk County Department of Health Services collaborates with Stony Brook Southampton Hospital Tick-Borne Disease Resource Center to promote tick-bite prevention and disseminate information about tick-borne diseases. Residents who have questions about tick-borne diseases are advised to contact the Stony Brook Southampton Hospital Tick-Borne Disease Resource Center Help Line at (631) 726-TICK.
Suffolk County Summer 2019 Tick Talks
Hampton Bays Public Library
Thursday, July 11. 2019, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
52 Ponquogue Ave., Hampton Bays, NY 11946
Preregister: (631) 728-6241
Riverhead Free Library
Monday, July 15, 2019, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
330 Court St., Riverhead, NY 11901
Preregister: (631) 727-3228
East Islip Public Library
Tuesday, July 16, 2019, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
381 East Main St., East Islip, NY 11730
Preregister: (631) 581-9200
Cold Spring Harbor East Islip Public Library
Thursday, July 18, 2019, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
95 Harbor Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
Preregister: (631) 692-6820
Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library
Tuesday, July 23, 2019, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
27550 Main Rd., Cutchogue, NY 11935
Preregister: (631)734-6360
Southold Free Library
(at Southold Presbyterian Church)
Thursday, August 1, 2019, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
53705 Main RdSouthold, NY 11971
Preregister: (631) 765-2077
West Babylon Public Library
Monday, August 19, 2019, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
211 NY-109, West Babylon, NY 11704
Preregister: (631) 669-5445
John Jermain Memorial Library
September 9, 2019, 5:30 – 7 p.m.
201 Main St., Sag Harbor, NY 11963
Preregister: (631)725-0049
Islip Public Library
Thursday, September 26, 2019, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
71 Monell Ave., Islip, NY 11776
Preregister: (631) 581-5933
Suffolk County Tick Tabling Events 2019
North Babylon Public Library
Monday, June 24, 2019, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
815 Deer Park Ave, North Babylon, NY 11703
(631) 669-4020
West Babylon Public Library
Wednesday, June 26, 2019, 10 – 1 p.m.
211 NY-109, West Babylon, NY 11704
(631) 669-5445
Sachem Public Library
Friday, June 28, 2019, 12 – 3 p.m.
150 Holbrook Rd., Holbrook, NY 11741
(631) 588-5024
South Country Library
Monday, July 8, 2019, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
22 Station Rd., Bellport, NY 11755
(631) 286-0818
Copiague Memorial Library
Wednesday, July 10, 2019, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
50 Deauville Blvd., Copiague, NY 11726
(631) 691-1111
Huntington Public Library- Main Branch
Thursday, July 11, 2019, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
338 Main St., Huntington, NY 11743
(631) 427-5165
Westhampton Free Library
Friday, July 12, 2019, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Friday, July 26, 2019, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
7 Library Ave., Westhampton Beach, NY 11978
(631) 288-3335
Huntington Public Library- Station Branch
Thursday, July 18, 2019, 10 a.m.- 12 p.m.
1335 New York Ave., Huntington, NY 11743
(631) 421-5053
Westhampton Free Library
Friday, July 12, 2019, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Friday, July 26, 2019, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
7 Library Ave., Westhampton Beach, NY 11978
(631) 288-3335
Amityville Public Library
July 17, 2019, 12-3 p.m.
19 John Street
Amityville, NY 11701
(631) 264-0567
Huntington Public Library- Station Branch
Thursday, July 18, 2019, 10 – 12 p.m.
1335 New York Ave
Huntington, NY 11743
(631) 421-5053
Connetquot Public Library
Monday, July 22, 2019, 1 – 4 p.m.
760 Ocean Ave., Bohemia, NY 11716
(631) 567-5079
Islip Public Library
Monday, August 5, 2019, 1 – 3 p.m.
71 Monell Ave., Islip, NY 11776
(631) 581-5933
Northport- East Northport Library
Tuesday, August 6, 2019, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.
151 Laurel Ave., Northport, NY 11768
(631) 261- 6930
East Northport Public Library
Wednesday, August 7, 2109, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.
185 Larkfield Rd., East Northport, NY 11731
(631) 261-6930
Comsewogue Public Library
Date and time to be determined
170 Terryville Rd., Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776
(631) 928-1212
Port Jefferson Village
Date and time to be determined
100 Thompson St., Port Jefferson, NY 11777
(631) 473-0022
Patchogue Medford Library
Date and time to be determined
54-60 East Main St., Patchogue, New York 11772
(631) 654-4700
Comsewogue Public Library
Date and time to be determined
170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776
(631) 928-1212
Port Jefferson Free Library
Date and time to be determined
100 Thompson St., Port Jefferson, NY 11777
(631) 473-0022
Cold Spring Harbor
Date and time to be determined
95 Harbor Road
Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
(631) 692-6820
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