Two local health departments awarded grants for mosquito control

COLUMBUS — Richland Public Health and the Galion City Health Department have been awarded grants for mosquito control. Richland Public Health will receive $24,997 while Galion City Health Department was awarded $13,028.

They are among 58 health departments and municipalities across 47 counties receiving $1,060,682 in grants from Ohio EPA for mosquito control, including $188,368 for the removal of scrap tires, which can become breeding grounds for mosquito larvae. The funding will help mitigate the spread of mosquito-borne viruses such as West Nile, La Crosse encephalitis, and eastern equine encephalitis.

“The mosquito control program is one of our most successful and meaningful partnerships with local health departments,” Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel said. “The grants go directly into funding education and outreach efforts in communities, and equipment that helps to prevent and eliminate mosquito breeding grounds to protect Ohioans from serious mosquito borne illnesses.”

Grants are being issued in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Health’s larger effort to mitigate the potential for an outbreak of mosquito-borne viruses. Over the last eight years, Ohio EPA and the Ohio Department of Health have awarded $8.5 million to local health departments and communities for mosquito control programs.