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Vector-borne diseases on Fire Island, New York (Fire Island National Seashore Science Synthesis Paper)

Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2005/018
PDF on file: 6430_Ginsburg.pdf 1.2 MB
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Abstract

This paper discusses eleven tick-borne and five mosquito-borne pathogens that are known to occur at FIlS, or could potentially occur. The potential for future occurrence, and ecological factors that influence occurrence, are assessed for each disease. Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease on Fire Island. The Lyme spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, is endemic in local tick and wildlife populations. Public education, personal precautions against tick bite, and prompt treatment of early-stage infections can help manage the risk of Lyme disease on Fire Island. The pathogens that cause Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis and Tularemia have been isolated from ticks or wildlife on Fire Island, and conditions suggest that other tickborne diseases (including Babesiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis) might also occur, but these are far less common than Lyme disease, if present. West Nile Virus (WNV) is the primary mosquito- borne human pathogen that is known to occur on Fire Island. Ecological conditions and recent epizootiological events suggest that WNV occurs in foci that can shift from year to year. Therefore, a surveillance program with appropriate responses to increasing epizootic activity can help manage the risk of WNV transmission on Fire Island.

Suggested Citation

Ginsberg, H., 2005, Vector-borne diseases on Fire Island, New York (Fire Island National Seashore Science Synthesis Paper): Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR--2005/018, ix, 78.

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype Federal Government Series
Title Vector-borne diseases on Fire Island, New York (Fire Island National Seashore Science Synthesis Paper)
Series title Technical Report
Series number NPS/NER/NRTR--2005/018
Year Published 2005
Language English
Publisher U.S. National Park Service, Northeast Region
Publisher location Boston, Massachusetts
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Description ix, 78
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