The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) received $500,000 from the 2004 Utah Legislature to expand mosquito spraying in areas outside the state's established mosquito abatement districts. The spraying is intended to target mosquitoes that carry the West Nile Virus (WNV).

State and local health agencies, mosquito abatement districts as well as the UDAF and others continue to prepare for a second and presumably more intense WNV year in 2004. The expanded prevention and abatement program is one of several steps being taken to attempt to lessen the impact of WNV in Utah this year.

Today the UDAF met with various local, state and federal agencies and organizations concerned about the West Nile Virus. As a result of the meeting, a Decision and Action committee was formed to carry out the expanded spraying program. The committee's first action will be to survey mosquito breeding grounds and identify potential spraying areas.

The following is a list of agencies or groups named to the committee: Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Utah Department of Health, Utah Department of Natural Resources, state and local mosquito abatement districts, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, local health departments, Ute and Navajo Nation Councils, Utah Horse Council, and the Utah Farm Bureau.

The committee will meet as needed to carry out the spraying program.

ADVICE FOR UTAH HORSE OWNERS

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is strongly advising horse owners throughout the state to protect their animals by vaccinating them for the West Nile Virus by April or May of this year.

If you vaccinated your horse last year with the recommended number of shots, then a single "booster" shot will be sufficient this year. If you have not vaccinated your animal yet, you are advised to get a series of two shots administered three to sis weeks apart. You can obtain the vaccine from most local veterinarian.

Horse owners can protect their animals by applying approved repellants to the animals and by controlling mosquitoes and mosquito breeding areas. Horse owners may also protect the animals by putting them in the barn or other enclosed structures.

For more information about the West Nile Virus, please visit the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food's web page at: http://www.ag.utah.gov or the Utah Department of Health's web page: http://health.utah.gov.

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