I live fairly close to this area. Over the years there have been many reports and studies in local media and the Plum Island facility has since been shut down. It is named after Lyme Connecticut for a reason and was a no fly zone for decades.
Goog 'plum island history lyme disease' there's plenty.
Here's a starter.
https://sites.newpaltz.edu/ticktalk/social-attitudes/story-by-smaranda-dumitru/
and this is why we can't have "real" news anymore. the internet came along and people like you got to say things without getting the immediate laughter and shunning that a dumbass gets in "real" life.