Durham starts new West Nile surveillance season

With summer on Durham’s doorstep, the regional health department has started its annual surveillance and control program for the mosquito-borne West Nile Virus.

Since 2001, the virus has been found in people, mosquitoes, birds and horses, with 46 reported cases in Ontario last year, up from 33 in 2015. There has been one confirmed and one probable human case of West Nile in Durham in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

As part of the program, the health department traps adult mosquitoes to test for the virus. Last year, 10 of the mosquito pools tested were found to be positive for West Nile Virus.

“Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water,” states Ross MacEachern, manager of environmental health with the health department.

“As a result, area residents are reminded to remove or cover any standing water around their homes to help reduce the development of mosquito larvae.”

To minimize potential breeding sites, the health department recommends chlorinating rain barrels or covering them with mosquito screening, draining water from pool and chair covers, clear out roof gutters to ensure they drain properly, clean and properly maintain swimming pools and hot tubs, remove all unused tires from your property and ensure drainage ditches are not backed up.

To reduce the possibility of contracting the virus, the health department recommends wearing shoes, socks and light-coloured clothing with long sleeves and full-length pants when outside, especially overnight; use insect repellent containing DEET on any exposed skin, ensure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens, keep grass, shrubs and hedges trimmed and turned over compost piles on a regular basis.

For more information on the West Nile Virus, please call the Environmental Help Line at (905) 723-3818, or visit durham.ca/westnile.