JULY 13, 2009

COUNTY LEGISLATURE APPROVES FUNDS TO FIGHT MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES THROUGH LARVACIDE USE

The Erie County Legislature unanimously voted to authorize spending $70,000 to buy larvacide for the county's Project SWAT mosquito control program at its July 9 session.

The County Legislature approved purchasing and distributing mosquito larvacide to many Erie County towns and villages through the successful Project SWAT program, which proactively protects county residents by lowering the risk of mosquito-borne diseases.

"This funding will allow for the distribution of mosquito larvacide provide by Erie County in risk areas by town or village personnel trained in pesticide application through the county Department of Health and a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation training program," County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) said. "Mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile Virus and the H1N1 Virus commonly referred to as the ‘swine flu,' are public health concerns in Erie County and New York State. I am pleased that the Legislature is taking a proactive approach to the mosquito-borne disease situation in Erie County."

Chair Marinelli expressed her appreciation for the collaborative work on the larvacide funding and other mosquito-borne disease issues from County Legislators Michele M. Iannello (D-Kenmore) and Thomas Loughran (D-Amherst, Tonawanda, Cheektowaga), the town of Tonawanda and Erie County Commissioner of Health Dr. Anthony J. Billittier IV.

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