West Nile Virus Mosquito Control Funds Awarded
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UDAF offers advice to horse owners
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF), working with local and state health agencies, awarded nearly $300,000 to 18 counties or agencies to help expand the fight against West Nile Virus in Utah. The funds are to be used to create new, or expand existing, mosquito control districts.
“This is an important program that can help limit the spread of West Nile Virus among people and horses,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Food, Leonard M. Blackham. “Not only do the counties or mosquito abatement districts receive these funds, but they also receive sound technical advice on how best to control mosquito populations,” he added.
This is the second year that the UDAF has awarded such funds. Last year the UDAF granted $500,000 to the effort.
“This program is especially important this year because of the increased moisture throughout Utah,” said Plant Industry Director, Clair Allen. “The districts need special help to locate and treat areas that could be mosquito breeding grounds,” Allen added.
The UDAF along with representatives from the Utah Department of Health and the Salt Lake Mosquito Abatement District, reviewed numerous applications and identified 18 entities that qualified for funding. They are:
Beaver County $4,000
Bluff City, $2,976
Cache County MAD, 60,000
Carbon County, 10,000
Daggett County MAD, 15,000
Emery County, $9,000
Grand County MAD, $5,000
Juab County, 30,000
Piute County and towns $9,700
Rich County, 10,000
Summit Co. MAD $25,000
Sanpete County, $12,500
Sevier County, $17,250
Southwest MAD, $21,000
Uintah MAD $15,000
Wasatch County, $35,000
Wayne County/towns $10,000
UDAF Division of
Animal Industry $5,000
The listed counties and districts will contribute matching funds to help expand the amount of funds available for mosquito abatement work. The funds are expected to be distributed in the next few weeks, with mosquito control work to begin as soon as possible.
ADVICE FOR UTAH HORSE OWNERS
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is strongly advising horse owners throughout the state to protect their animals by vaccinating them for the West Nile Virus as soon as possible this year.
If you vaccinated your horse last year with the recommended number of shots, then a single “booster” shot will be sufficient this year. If you have not vaccinated your animal yet, you are advised to get a series of two shots administered three to six weeks apart. You can obtain the vaccine from most local veterinarians.
Horse owners can protect their animals by applying approved repellants to the animals and by controlling mosquitoes and mosquito breeding areas. Horse owners may also protect the animals by putting them in the barn or other enclosed structures.
For more information about the West Nile Virus, please visit the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food’s web page at: http://ag.utah.gov or the Utah Department of Health’s web page: http://health.utah.gov.
Posted May 23, 2005
