Grants for Local Mosquito Control Programs

Grant Funds Available for Local Mosquito Control Programs

The Department of Health announced that grant funds are again available to help South Dakota cities, counties and tribes to help control mosquitoes and prevent West Nile virus (WNV).

“Active mosquito control programs at the local level are a critical component of reducing the risk of West Nile,” said Secretary of Health Kim Malsam-Rysdon. “We’re pleased to have funding to help support those local efforts again this year.”

Malsam-Rysdon said the department has a total of $500,000 available to support local mosquito control programs. Individual grant awards could range from $500 to $30,000 and will be based on the population of the applying jurisdiction and its number of human WNV cases through 2014.

Since WNV emerged in South Dakota, the department has provided local control programs with $5.1 million in support, including direct grant funding as well as mosquito control chemicals.

Since the state’s first human case in 2002, South Dakota has reported 2,168 cases, including 677 hospitalizations and 32 deaths. Every county has reported cases.

Grant applications are available on the department’s WNV website, westnile.sd.gov.

The deadline for submitting applications is June 8. Grant awards will be issued after July 1.

Direct questions to Susan Gannon at 605-773-3737 or susan.gannon@state.sd.us. Completed applications can be sent to Meghan Wittmis at meghan.wittmis@state.sd.us; fax, 605-773-5683; or mail, South Dakota Department of Health, 600 E. Capitol, Pierre, SD 57501-2536.