BETHLEHEM (Apr 4) – State Senator Lisa Boscola announced today that $277,982 will be awarded to assist Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton Counties monitor and control the West Nile Virus.  Funding for Pennsylvania’s 2007 Mosquito Surveillance Program, so entitled due to the fact that West Nile Virus is spread by mosquitoes, is included in Governor Rendell’s proposed budget and will be administered through the Department of Environmental Protection.

“I am glad to see such an aggressive approach being taken across this Commonwealth to help curb the number of human cases of West Nile Virus,” Boscola said.  “One of the most important things for homeowners to do to decrease their risks is to ‘Dump it, drain it, treat it,’ to get rid of standing water on your property.” 

Through the funding provided environmentally sensitive materials are used to control the mosquito population. For killing larvae, which is the major method of mosquito control, the naturally-occurring bacteria Bti and Bsph are used. These bacteria attack the digestive system of the mosquito larvae, and have no effect on people, animals, plants, or other insects. The other larval control product is the insect hormone methoprene that prevents the mosquito larvae from developing into adults. The products used to kill adult mosquitoes likewise are selected based on their environmental sensitivity and are applied so they do not harm people, animals or plants.    

Below is the list of 2007 Mosquito Surveillance grants awarded: 

• Lehigh County - $133,122

• Monroe County - $76,030

• Northampton County - $68,830

For additional questions regarding the Mosquito Surveillance Program, please feel free to contact Senator Boscola’s office in Lehigh County (610) 266-2117, Monroe County (570) 420-2938 or Northampton County (610) 868-8667.

 ###