West Nile Virus Prevention and Control
If there’s a way to prevent a viral infection that causes side effects that are at best uncomfortable and at worst life-threatening, would you do your part? West Nile Virus (WNV) is a very active illness in the state of South Dakota.
Get educated on WNV facts and how to prevent the illness.
Know the Facts
West Nile Virus is an infection most commonly spread through mosquito bites. While it is prevalent in many states with large mosquito populations, the rate of incidents is highest in South Dakota. And WNV can lead to many other symptoms, including fevers and even serious—potentially fatal—illness.
Know Your Risk
- SDSU Extension Weekly Assessment & Mosquito Collection Data
- South Dakota West Nile Virus Fact Sheet
- How NASA is helping us fight West Nile
Try these simple tips to fend off the virus during peak mosquito seasons
Prevent the Infection
While there’s no direct cure or antidote to WNV, prevention is imperative. Take steps to protect yourself from infection, and you can save yourself a lot of unfortunate side effects that result from WNV.
West Nile Virus Grant awards
More than 200 South Dakota cities, counties and tribes will share in $500,000 in grants intended to control mosquitoes and prevent West Nile virus (WNV) in 2019. All applying communities received funding, with grants ranging from $500 to $20,000. Grant awards were based on the population of the applying jurisdiction and its history of human WNV cases through 2018.
Thank you for your work to prevent West Nile virus. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Department of Health, Office of Health Protection at 605-773-4945 and ask to speak to Julie, Donna, or Bill.
Please note the significant changes to the process of awarding funds this year. In previous years, full awards were made upfront, once you submitted each of the required documents: a completed application, W-9 form, proof of insurance, and a signed contract. Starting with 2019, in addition to the 4 required documents, awards will be made on a reimbursement basis only, for mosquito control expenditures between April 1, 2019 and October 31, 2019. As an example, if your award amount is $500, you will start out by submitting the W-9, proof of insurance, and the signed contract. Then later on, you would submit an invoice with an itemized listing of mosquito control expenditures and proof of purchase information totaling at least $500. If you need to submit incrementally, you could also break this into two and submit a $250 invoice early on and then another $250 invoice later in the year. All mosquito control equipment and supply purchases must be documented with appropriate receipts or invoices. Please note all eligible expenditures must be completed by October 31, 2019 and all requests for reimbursement must be completed by November 30, 2019. Total reimbursements will not exceed the amount of your total award.