Uncertain future for mosquito control funding

Local governments have stepped up mosquito control programs in recent years over fears of the West Nile virus.

In the Central Okanagan Regional District, the mosquito control budget jumped from approximately $20,000 to nearly $300,000.

The extra money came from the provincial government.

But the virus has not turned out to be the public health threat that experts expected, and now the province is considering whether to cut funding for mosquito control.

Medical Health Officer Dr. Robert Parker says the virus does not seem to be spreading extremely fast and there have been few human cases in the province.

Parker says the question that arises is whether mosquito control is a cost effective thing to do.

The Ministry of Health is taking a hard look at the programs to see if the risk to public health is high enough to warrant the expense.

If the programs are cut and there is an outbreak of West Nile, public health officers have the authority to order municipal governments to implement mosquito control programs at their own cost.

Oliver Mayor Patrick Hampson says taxpayers would have to pick up the extra costs.

Okanagan health officials and municipal governments are hoping the province will continue to fund the programs.

The Ministry of Health is expected to make a decision on the future of the mosquito control programs in the next month or two.