Despite a long winter, it could be a long painful summer for some residents in their battle against West Nile.

South Dakota counties may have to cut back on their mosquito control programs after losing state funding, which could take a bite out of summer fun and increase the chances of contracting the potentially deadly west nile virus 

Skip Lewis enjoys the evenings on his deck at Wall Lake. But it wasn't always that way, because of swarms of mosquitoes. 

"At dark time, it seemed like they would come out so they'd chase you in the house," said Lewis. 

But Lewis says ever since the county started spraying, he's noticed a big difference and would hate to see the program end. 

"We think it's really important because it's a breeding ground for mosquitoes here," said Lewis. 

"I think that health and public safety is part of the responsibility of local government," said Minnehaha County commissioner Carol Twedt. 

Minneahaha County commissioners found out their fight against the West Nile virus may be weakened this year because they won't get $45,000 dollars in state funding for the program. 

"We've been told the money isn't going to be there, so it isn't going to be there. We have to either pare down the program or find dollars somewhere else," said Twedt. 

Even with all the spraying program and larvaciding, the county still had five cases of west nile. Lewis says those numbers are bound to go up if the program is cut back. 

"We got kids running around here all the time. I guess older people are subject to West Mile and its harder to get over it," said Lewis.

The program won't be cut entirely. The county budgeted $120,000 of its own dollars to control west nile.