DANVILLE — The elimination of Montour County’s West Nile virus program is yet another reason residents should be calling state legislators and demanding that a state budget be passed, the county commissioners say.

Come Monday, 36 counties — including Northumberland, Snyder and Union — will lose West Nile virus program funding as a result of a proposed $1.5 million cut from the Department of Environmental Protection.

The state budget is 58 days overdue.

“Call, scream, holler, march out front, go to Harrisburg,” Commissioner Jack Gerst said Tuesday night of contacting legislators over the budget deadlock.

Added Commissioner Trevor Finn: “It is imperative people contact their legislators to get this budget impasse done away with. Write, e-mail or call legislators. Leave messages every day, not only with our representatives but also with senior members and policy members. I am worried that those who are most vulnerable will suffer.”

Infants and the elderly are the most at-risk populations to suffer from West Nile.

Because the West Nile program funding has been eliminated as a result of the budget standoff, Montour County risks losing Greg Molter, part-time vector control department director. A state grant — along with $5,796 the county contributes toward the program — pays his salary. Molter also serves as county zoning officer on a part-time basis.

Molter said the DEP grant for the program for the entire year is $49,481. The program has been in effect since 2000.

“I hope we don’t lose you,” Finn told Molter.

Molter replied: “I have to protect my family.”

One positive West Nile test pool of mosquitoes was found recently near Washingtonville, said Molter, who traps mosquitoes, sends samples for testing and sprays mosquito-prone areas.

Montour County’s West Nile virus program is among 36 in the state to lose funding. Funding in 7th- and 8th-class counties has been cut. Montour is an 8th-class county.

“There’s no rhyme or reason to continuing funding in metropolitan areas and not keeping the program in Union, Snyder, Northumberland, Montour and Columbia counties,” Molter said.

According to information Molter researched on the state’s West Nile Web site, an 84-year-old woman in Northumberland County died of the virus in 2003 and a 72-year-old man from Snyder County died of the virus in October 2003.

He said he attended a conference in 2007 where two survivors of the virus spoke. One was from Northumberland County and the other from Juniata County. He said they still were suffering from the virus a year after contracting it.