Lawmakers: Restore West Nile virus control funding By MATT KAPKO Bay City News Service June 9, 2005 A group of organizations joined a state senator and assemblyman today at a news conference in Sacramento to urge the state government to restore funding earmarked for controlling the West Nile virus. The proposed state budget calls for $12 million to help fund local mosquito control agencies to combat West Nile virus, but the Budget Conference Committee last week reduced the amount to $3 million. The $12 million would fund one-time grants to boost existing local mosquito control district efforts and expand their work to areas of the state not served by an existing district, according to the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California, or MVCAC. The association was joined this morning by state Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, state Assemblyman Rick Keene, R-Chico, the California Waterfowl Association, Bloodsource, the California Rice Commission and the Health Officers Association of California at State Capitol Park in Sacramento, near a pond on the east side of the capitol. Assembly Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, also made an unannounced visit to show his support, MVCAC spokesman Ted Toppin said. "The West Nile virus plague is spreading throughout California,'' Keene said today after the news conference. "We just want to be proactive and we have a chance to do that now.'' "It was a fairly well thought out plan,'' he said. "At a time when we're trying to restore wetlands throughout the state ... we've got then to deal with the resulting consequences, which means we've got to keep on top of mosquito-borne illnesses.'' The decision to cut funding by 75 percent was "thoughtless,'' Keene said. "It's not a political football, there are no Republican or Democrat mosquitoes,'' Toppin said. West Nile virus has been detected in 23 of California's 58 counties, representing an increase from what was detected last year in early June, the association reports. In 2004, the virus contributed to the death of 28 Californians, sickened 800 and spread to every county in the state, according to the association. Medical doctors maintain that only one out of 150 infected with the virus would likely develop serious symptoms, most notably encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain. The median age of those who contracted the virus is 52. Southern California has had more human cases due to the area's typically warmer weather, which is conducive to mosquitoes' progression cycle from an egg to a biting adult. Mosquitoes tend to contract the virus through birds. The types of birds that are the most easily infected are crows, jays and ravens. Bay Area officials are urging residents to help stop the spread of the virus by eliminating standing water, which can support mosquito breeding. The use of mosquito repellent, avoiding the outdoors during dusk hours and wearing long-sleeve shirts in areas known to be high in mosquito counts are encouraged as ways to avoid contracting the virus. Bay Area residents are asked to call their local control district if they find crows, jays, sparrows, finches or birds of prey that appear to have been dead less than 48 hours and have no obvious signs of injury. Residents can also call the state's Dead Bird Hotline at (877) 968-2473. Home