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VICTORIA – Local governments will benefit from funding to assist planning efforts for next season’s mosquito control with the anticipated arrival of West Nile virus. Up to $1.6 million is available for municipalities and regional districts.
“We are working with local governments to ensure they have the tools for next summer’s potential West Nile virus situation,” said George Abbott, Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services. “This funding is part of our commitment to ensure local governments have the resources and capacity they need, in this case to maximize the health and well-being of their citizens and communities.”
Local governments can use the funds for planning, staff training and collaborating with other agencies, such as regional health authorities, for West Nile virus control activities. Other activities include monitoring mosquito populations and source reduction of mosquito breeding sites.
Local governments will receive a maximum of $50,000 per municipality in one-time funding. A minimum of $5,000 per municipality recognizes the lower fiscal capacity of smaller communities. Applications can be found at http://www.mcaws.gov.bc.ca/lgd/irpd/westnile.htm and are to be received by March 1, 2004.
“Our government has been very proactive by ensuring a co-ordinated approach to West Nile Virus, which ultimately helped monitor and reduce the risk of infection to the public this summer”, said Health Planning Minister Sindi Hawkins. “This is one more step we are taking to help British Columbians take precautions against mosquito bites”.
The West Nile virus was first detected in 1999 in New York City. It spread across North America by summer 2002. The virus is mosquito-borne and can cause human illness and death. There are some regions in British Columbia where warm temperatures, mosquito populations capable of transmitting the virus, and urban population concentrations can produce conditions conducive to virus transmittal to humans.
B.C.’s West Nile virus strategy was developed by a provincial working group including public health inspectors, physicians, veterinarians, wildlife experts, entomologists and pesticide officers. Representation also includes those from the BCCentre for Disease Control, regional health authorities and the provincial ministries of Health Planning, Water, Land and Air Protection, and Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.
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