General News
No new positive WNV mosquito pools in Caledon
August 17, 2013 · 0 Comments
Some new positive test results for West Nile Virus (WNV) have been reported in mosq uito pools in Peel Region, but none in Caledon.
This is the result of the weekly report from Peel Public Health for the period ending Aug. 3.
That week saw two new positive-testing pools in Brampton and three in Mississauga, making a total of five for both cities. Caledon’s total remained at one, representing a positive pool found in Bolton the previous week.
The adult mosquito surveillance program started June 10. Adult mosquitoes are being collected weekly from mosquito traps at 31 fixed locations throughout the region until late September. To date, 441 mosquito batches have been tested and those 11 tested positive. The Health Department received 14 stagnant water reports from Peel residents during the week.
There have been no human cases of WNV reported in Peel. There has been one human case reported in Toronto, but that is the only one in Canada so far this year. there have been 53 human cases reported in the United States.
The larviciding program in Peel started May 30 and will continue until Sept. 30. Larviciding involves applying environmentally-friendly products to reduce mosquito larvae (immature mosquitoes) living in stagnant water. The products are applied to municipal catch basins and selected sites on public property.
The second round of larviciding began July 17. Crews had been working in Brampton and expected to finish in Caledon by the end of last week. The second round is indicated by a white dot on the catch basin grate.
The third and final round was to start Friday (Aug. 9) in Mississauga and will be indicated by a pink dot. It takes three weeks to complete a round of larviciding.
Larviciding of catch basins in the green spaces of parks in Peel has started. The treatment of surface water sites on public lands is ongoing.
Residents can help reduce the number of mosquitoes around their homes by eliminating stagnant water on the property, and by following these tips:
• Empty or dispose of containers that can hold water, such as old tires, wheelbarrows, barrels, pails, toys and recycling bins.
• Turn over wading pools when they are not in use, remove water that collects on pool covers and make sure the pool’s pump is circulating.
• Change water in birdbaths weekly.
• Clear leaves and twigs from eavestroughs.
For more tips, visit www.peel-bugbite.ca.
