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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Peter J. Daley |
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Over $120,000 in state funds provided for mosquito surveillance
Fayette and Washington counties to benefit from program
HARRISBURG, May 13 – State Sen. Richard Kasunic, Sen. J. Barry Stout and State Rep. Peter J. Daley D-Washington/Fayette, announced today that Washington County and Fayette County will receive more than $120,000 in state funding to help fight the spread of West Nile virus.
Daley said that a state Department of Environmental Protection grant will be used to set up mosquito monitoring and virus surveillance programs, and will help to determine if West Nile is present and aid in alerting residents about the potential threat from the disease.
"Public education on West Nile virus is important and this grant will ensure that Washington and Fayette counties do the best possible job of informing their residents of what they can do to stop the virus from spreading," said Daley.
West Nile virus first appeared in Pennsylvania in 2000 and is spread by infected mosquitoes. To combat the spread of West Nile virus, the state has developed a comprehensive network, which covers all 67 counties and includes trapping mosquitoes, collecting dead birds and monitoring horses, people and sentinel chickens.
"Prevention is the key to combating mosquitoes and the disease carried by mosquitoes," Stout said. "These grants enable us to protect our communities and the most vulnerable in them from serious illness and possible death."
Kasunic said, "With all the recent coverage on diseases transmitted through animals and insects, it is vital that we take all measures to protect our communities as best we can. I will continue to work with my legislative colleagues to obtain state dollars for worthy public health efforts."
Additional information about West Nile virus is available online at www.westnile.state.pa.us
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