Public health experts say it's possible the potentially deadly West Nile Virus might arrive in Utah next year.

The virus is carried by birds on their migratory routes, and transmitted to humans by mosquitos. Science Specialist Ed Yeates reports the State Health department is getting prepared.

Since mosquitoes transmit West Nile virus from bird to human, State Health and Mosquito Abatement Districts want to make sure they can identify it if and when it arrives.

State Health has applied for a grant from the Centers for Disease Control, allowing states with heavy mosquito populations to set up additional monitoring.

The State currently draws blood from sentinel chickens to check every two weeks for Western Equine Encephalitis, which our mosquitoes can carry. The grant would expand watchdog programs next year and would pay for samples taken directly from captured mosquitoes.

Utah currently has two species which potentially could transmit the West Nile Virus.

DR. SAM DICKSON, SLC MOSQUITO ABATEMENT: "ONE IS OUR MOST COMMON MOSQUITO - AND THAT'S CULEX TARSALIS - AND WE KNOW THAT IT CAN TRANSMIT WESTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS. THE OTHER MOSQUITO IS CULEX PIPIENS WHICH IS THE COMMON HOUSE MOSQUITO WHICH IS ALL THROUGH THE CITY."

The city's mosquito abatement district also doesn't want to deal with this problem next year. A canal has overflowed on more than 100 acres of farmland northwest of the city - providing an instant breeding ground for 60 million mosquitoes.

"BECAUSE OF AQUATIC WEEDS GROWING UP IN THAT, IT'S OVERFLOWED ITS BANKS AND PRODUCED SOME SOURCES FOR CULEX TARSALIS - ONE OF THE VECTORS - CLOSE TO THE ROSE PARK AREA."

ED YEATES, SCIENCE SPECIALIST: "ALSO, FOR THE MOSQUITO, THIS CANAL IS LITERALLY THEIR I-15. THEY RISE UP OUT OF THE STAGNANT PONDS, FLY CLOSE TO THE WATER - AND GUESS WHERE THEY'RE HEADED? TOWARDS THE CITY!"

Mosquito Abatement is currently using a controversial herbicide to keep the canal from overflowing, but it's only a temporary remedy.