Moving into the peak of mosquito season, the South Dakota Department of Health is working with communities to reduce the risk of West Nile Virus. More than 180 South Dakota cities, counties, and tribes applied for a grant to fund mosquito population control and received assistance this year. State Epidemiologist, Dr. Lon Kightlinger says the $500,000 was divided up on several conditions.
The state’s first human case of West Nile Virus was reported in 2002, and there have been more than 30 people die of the disease since then. Kightlinger says this funding will go towards larvaecides, sprays, and education to prevent any more cases this year.
This mosquito season has already seen its first case of West Nile, reported on June 20th in Brown County. Kightlinger says Brown County and Aberdeen are among the communities at the highest risk for the disease.
