Kern County Receives State Funds To Fight West Nile

The Kern County Department of Public Health on Friday was awarded $364,834 to help fight West Nile virus, according to a state public health official, the Bakersfield Californian reports.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) earlier this month expanded uses for the $10 million he allocated to combat West Nile virus to include public education, medical community outreach and monitoring of high-risk areas.

The new funding includes:

$22,292 for an epidemiologist to conduct a three-month study on West Nile virus trends;
$28,076 for overtime for personnel raising awareness, following up on diagnosed cases and updating the county's current West Nile virus action plan;
$37,500 for the Engineering and Survey Services Department to hire a company to clear county sumps and drains; and
$276,966 for billboards, public service announcements, brochures, door hangers and other promotional materials.

The county health department initially asked the state for $285,193, but the department later identified other areas that needed additional funding, Daniel Kim, director of health promotion and public information for the department, said.

Norma Arceo, spokesperson for the state Department of Public Health, said that Kern County has received a total of $808,844 from the state in 2007 to fight West Nile, including this recent award.

The funding must be used by the end of 2007, but the health department is hoping to use the public service announcement and educational materials next year as well, Kim said (Hagedorn, Bakersfield Californian, 9/24). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.