PIERRE – More than 200 South Dakota cities, counties and tribes will share $499,854 in grants intended to control mosquitoes and prevent West Nile virus (WNV), the Department of Health announced recently.
Artesian received $1,861, Letcher received $2,602 and Woonsocket received $2,500.
All applying communities received funding, with grants ranging from $450 to $20,000. Grant awards were based on the population of the applying jurisdiction and its history of human WNV cases through 2015.
Since the state’s first human case in 2002, South Dakota has reported 2,208 cases, including 696 hospitalizations and 32 deaths. Every county has reported cases. This season South Dakota reported its first human case in Minnehaha County on June 24.