Health Department Offers Funding for Local Mosquito Control Efforts

Funding is now available to help local communities start new mosquito control programs. Using a one-time grant of $500,000 from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Louisiana Department of Health is now offering funding to local governments to help them establish new mosquito control programs.

With the funding from the CDC, the Louisiana Department of Health will award up to five individual grants to parishes or municipalities that currently do not have an in-house mosquito abatement district. Those who receive the grants from the Louisiana Department of Health can use the money to purchase equipment and supplies to jump-start local mosquito control efforts.

Local governments must apply for the funding from the Department of Health. The amount of each individual award will be adjusted depending on the number of qualified applicants. To enhance surveillance and control efforts, the funding may also be awarded to an existing mosquito abatement district in which local transmission of Zika virus is discovered. 

“Surveillance-based local mosquito abatement districts provide a tremendous benefit to their communities,” State Medical Entomologist Kyle Moppert said. “Identifying disease-carrying mosquitoes and keeping them under control helps keep the community safe from a host of mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus and Zika.”

Mosquito surveillance, which is the seasonal monitoring of mosquito larva and adults, allows communities to identify which mosquito species are present in the area, monitor changes in mosquito populations and detect mosquito-borne diseases. All of these factors help determine more effectively which mosquito control measures should be taken and assists in targeting spraying efforts. 

For more information and to apply, contact Kyle Moppert at kyle.moppert@la.gov. 

The Louisiana Department of Health strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state residents. To learn more about LDH, visit www.ldh.la.gov. For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow LDH's Twitter account, Facebook and blog.