West Nile virus (WNV) is an infection\nspread by mosquitoes that in some people can cause serious illness. Each year\nfrom June to October, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) coordinates a WNV prevention\nprogram, which includes surveillance of the illness in humans, surveillance of\nmosquitoes, and treating water in storm water catch basins and certain surface\nwater sites against mosquito larvae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mosquitoes that spread WNV lay eggs in any\nstanding water, no matter how small, that may be around for a week or longer. The water at\nthe bottom of catch basins is a favoured location. City catch basins are\ntreated with larvicide either once or three times per season depending on the\nformulation used. The larvicide used in catch basins targets mosquito larvae\nand does not have any impacts on humans. A different larvicide that also has no\nimpact on humans is used on surface water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Surveillance of mosquito species involves the once a\nweek placement of approximately 30 strategically placed mosquito traps across\nthe City. Mosquito species composition and prevalence of WNV is analyzed. The\nresults are used along with other risk factor data, such as temperature,\nhistory, etc., to fine-tune OPH\u2019s WNV program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
OPH\nis sympathetic to residents facing nuisance mosquitoes in their neighbourhoods;\nhowever, OPH\u2019s programming initiatives focus on population controls only for\nthose species of mosquitoes known to transmit WNV to humans, and not the\nremaining species. Mosquitoes species bred in spring floodwater pools,\ntypically are not competent vectors for WNV. This means spring\nmosquitoes, particularly in rural\/semi-rural areas, are a nuisance but are\nnot a concern for carrying WNV. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Research has consistently found that WNV is most\nprevalent in urban settings. This is because the mosquito species Culex\npipiens\/<\/em>restuans associate themselves with human habitats where standing\nwater in small containers and objects is constantly available to lay eggs in,\nand peridomestic birds, such as sparrows and American robins are plentiful to\nfeed on. These two bird species in particular can get infected with WNV and\npass the virus back to mosquitoes, without themselves becoming severely ill. The\nprevalence of WNV in mosquitoes is amplified as it is transmitted in the\nmosquito-to-bird-to-mosquito cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In summary, while OPH\u2019s WNV program operates across\nthe City, current\/historical results and analysis of the mosquito traps clearly\nshow that in rural and semi-rural areas, nuisance mosquitoes predominate, and\nthat those that carry WNV are much more associated with urban and mature\nsuburban areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n OPH recommends that residents lessen the\nnumber of mosquitoes around their properties by reducing or eliminating\nareas or objects that can accumulate or retain water. Here are some\nsuggestions to reduce mosquitoes on your property:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep\nmosquitoes out of your home:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Protect\nyourself against mosquito bites:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the summer progresses, OPH will continue to monitor\nthe yields and analyses of trapped mosquitoes, as well as the results of tested\nsurface waters, and adjust our WNV program should further public protection be\nrequired in a given area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information about OPH\u2019s WNV Prevention\nProgram, visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca\/WestNileVirus<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" West Nile virus (WNV) is an infection spread by mosquitoes that in some people can cause serious illness. Each year from June to October, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) coordinates a WNV prevention program, which includes surveillance of the illness in … Continue reading