No new WNV activity in Caledon

September 11, 2013 · 0 Comments

There have been no new positive results in Caledon mosquito pools.
This was reported in the latest West Nile Virus (WNV) update issued by Peel Public Health.
During the week ending Aug. 31, there were five positive test results reported in pools in Peel; three in Brampton and two in Mississauga. In total, there have been 40 positive test results in Peel this year. Two of them were previously reported in Bolton. There has been one probable human case of the illness reported in Peel, but it has not been confirmed.
To date, there are 11 confirmed and six probable human cases of WNV illness in Ontario. There are three confirmed cases in each of Niagara and Windsor-Essex, and one in each of Chatham-Kent, Durham, Halton, Simcoe Muskoka District and Toronto. There is one probable case in each of Huron County, Middlesex London, Niagara, Peel, Toronto and York.
The larviciding program 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 third and final round of larviciding began in south Mississauga Aug. 9, and crews are completing catch basins that were skipped because of catch basin vacuuming. The third round is indicated by a pink dot on the catch basin grate. It takes three weeks to complete a round of larviciding.
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