While summer draws people out of their homes so they can enjoy the sunshine and warmth, it’s also the time of year when steps need to be taken to protect ourselves from mosquitoes, so they don’t put a damper on all the fun. The Middlesex-London Health Unit is reminding local residents to take steps to prevent mosquito bites, after a trap in London was found to contain insects that tested positive for West Nile Virus. The trap was located near Springbank Drive and Wharncliffe Road, and is the first to be found this summer containing West Nile Virus-positive mosquitoes.
“While we continue our mosquito surveillance and control efforts in the region, we want to remind people across London and Middlesex County that they need to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites,” says Jeremy Hogeveen, Vector-Borne Disease Coordinator with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “You can prevent mosquito bites by covering exposed skin or using repellants that contain DEET or Icaridin. Removing standing water from your property is also a great way to reduce the number of places mosquitoes can breed.”
Practical ways to reduce mosquito populations include emptying rain gutters, flower pots, children’s toys and other places where water collects, as well as regularly changing the water in birdbaths and adding a fountain or pump to ornamental ponds in order to aerate the water. Individuals can protect themselves and their families from being bitten by wearing light-coloured long sleeved shirts and pants as well as using an insect repellant that contains DEET or Icaridin. The Health Unit also recommends avoiding the outdoors during the hours near dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
The majority of people (80%) who become infected with West Nile Virus do not get sick. Those who do become ill usually experience mild flu-like symptoms, while less than 1% of people infected with the virus get seriously ill.
The Health Unit’s Vector-Borne Disease Team has been conducting weekly mosquito
monitoring at 250 standing water sites on public property in our region since the beginning of May. Where mosquitoes capable of carrying West Nile Virus are identified, a larvicide is applied to control insect larvae. This is in addition to the 35,000 roadside catch basins in London and Middlesex County that have already received two treatments this summer.
To learn more about personal protection and the Health Unit’s surveillance and control efforts please visit: www.healthunit.com/west-nile-virus.
Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit
519-663-5317 ext. 2469 or 519-617-0570 (cell)
Spokesperson:
Jeremy Hogeveen, Vector-Borne Disease Coordinator, Middlesex-London Health Unit