Schwarzenegger Releases $9M To Address West Nile Virus
The administration of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Wednesday announced that it had released $9 million to 75 agencies statewide to address West Nile virus, the Sacramento Bee reports. Starting Aug. 1, an additional $3 million will be available for agencies experiencing heavy West Nile virus activity, according to administration officials.
Thirty-one human cases of West Nile, including two deaths, have been reported across the state.
A joint legislative budget committee recommended last month to reduce to $7 million funding to address West Nile virus in the state. However, the full Legislature ultimately agreed to restore the money after mosquito-control and agriculture agencies warned that the virus could continue to spread throughout the state this summer.
Michelle Mussuto, a spokesperson for the " target="_blank">Department of Health Services, said restoring the funding is important to helping agencies identify mosquito breeding grounds, particularly in the northern part of the state (Bluth, Sacramento Bee, 7/29).