| August
12, 2002
Little Rock —
All Arkansas
counties are eligible to apply for assistance from the
Governor’s Disaster Fund to help defray costs of combating
West Nile Virus. An application package is being sent
to all Arkansas counties today.
Funds
will be distributed based on population and geographic
area and are only to be used for larviciding and education.
Counties are asked to work through their intergovernmental
cooperative councils to apply for the funds. Each county
will summarize what has been done this year for mosquito
abatement and will develop a West Nile Virus Control
Plan for future abatement. They will also partner with
the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service
and the Department of Health environmental specialists
for technical assistance and advice.
A
letter to county judges signed by W.R. “Bud” Harper,
director of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management,
and Dr. Fay Boozman, director of the Arkansas Department
of Health states, “We are not sure if additional funds
will be available. It is essential for counties to develop
on-going mosquito abatement programs and use any unexpended
funds from this program to purchase larvicide for next
year.”
Counties
can only use the funds for laviciding and education.
The deadline for applications is August 21, 2002.
To
view the application
cover letter, click here (requires Adobe
Acrobat).
To
view the application
form, click here (requires Adobe
Acrobat)
The Health Department is
continuing to monitor the state for mosquito-borne diseases.
The ADH has established
a West Nile virus hotline to respond to public inquiries.
If you have a question, please call 501.280.4817
from 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For after hours and weekends, please call 1.800.554.5738.
The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention West Nile
virus hotline is 1.888.246-2675; 1.888.246.2857
(Spanish).
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