Still only one WNV-positive mosquito pool in Peel

July 27, 2016 · 0 Comments

Peel Public Health is continuing its annual surveillance into West Nile Virus (WNV), and only one positive mosquito pool has been found so far.
That was earlier this month in the area of Derry Road and Goreway Drive in Mississauga.
Peel’s adult mosquito surveillance program started June 19. Adult mosquitoes are collected weekly from mosquito traps at 31 fixed locations throughout the region until late September. As of July 16, 108 mosquito batches have been tested for WNV.
No human cases of WNV have been reported in Peel this season.
The one positive pool in Mississauga was the only one found in Canada so far this year.
The Region is continuing with its mosquito-reduction program.
Larviciding involves the application of environmentally-friendly products to reduce mosquito larvae in stagnant water.
Peel’s larviciding program started June 1 and will continue until Sept. 30. It takes three weeks to complete a round of larviciding. There will be three rounds of roadside catch basin larviciding this year. The first round of was completed July 15. Larviciding crews are currently starting the second round of catch basin treatments in Mississauga. Catch basins treated in the second round will be indicated by a purple dot affixed to the catch basin grate.
Larviciding of catch basins in the green spaces of parks in Peel has been completed. The treatment of surface water sites on public lands is ongoing.
Residents can reduce their risk of WNV by removing stagnant water on their properties. Empty or dispose of containers that can hold water, such as old tires, wheelbarrows, barrels, pails, toys and recycling bins. Turn over wading pools, remove water that collects on pool covers and make sure the pool’s pump is circulating
They can also protect themselves from being bitten by avoiding areas with large numbers of mosquitoes; wearing light-coloured clothing, including long sleeves, long pants, socks and a hat whenever they are outdoors (even when they are in their own backyard), especially at dusk and at dawn; and using an insect repellent and apply it according to the manufacturer’s directions.
For more tips on protection from being bitten, visit www.peel-bugbite.ca
The Region will continue to provide information on Lyme disease and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) at www.peel-bugbite.ca
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care also has information about Lyme disease on their website at www.ontario.ca/lyme
There have been no human cases of WNV illness reported in Ontario or Canada this season.
To date, there are 36 human cases of WNV in the United States, including 11 in Arizona and three in Texas. For information on WNV activity in the United States, see www.cdc.gov/westnile/
For more information about WNV and the Region of Peel’s WNV Prevention Plan, call 905-584-2216, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.