London, ON – A dead crow found in Parkhill that tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV), has prompted the Middlesex-London Health Unit to increase its surveillance and control efforts in the North Middlesex community. Health Unit staff will increase standing water treatments in the area and set up a new mosquito trap to help detect further WNV activity.

The WNV-positive dead bird was found roughly in the middle of Parkhill and is the third to be identified this year; an announcement about the first two birds, found in North London and Dorchester, was made last week.

“Knowing the virus is in Parkhill allows us to step up our mosquito control efforts there,” says Jeremy Hogeveen, Vector-Borne Disease Coordinator with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “In this case, the public played a big role in letting us know about the dead crow. We rely on people to let us know when they find dead crows and blue jays and we call on them to drain standing water on their property, where mosquitoes can breed.”

Since the summer of 2011, when mosquito populations in Parkhill were high, the Health Unit has worked with the Municipality of North Middlesex and the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority to reduce mosquito habitats. While weekly numbers have varied this summer, the last two weeks of July yielded the highest number of mosquitoes from traps located in Parkhill, however none tested positive for WNV. The WNV-positive dead crow is the first indication the virus is present in the community this summer.

Tips to protect yourself and your family against West Nile Virus:

• Wear light-coloured clothing with long-sleeves, pants and socks in areas where mosquitoes are present, especially at dusk and dawn when the insects are most active.
• Use an insect repellent with DEET. Follow directions for use, especially for children.
• Fix holes in screens, windows and doors.
• Regularly empty standing water from garbage cans, wheelbarrows, toys, flowerpots and saucers, pool covers, tires, and other items around homes and yards.
• Clean clogged eaves troughs.
• Clean and change water in bird baths every two days.
• Keep pool pumps circulating.
• Aerate ponds or stock them with fish.
• Cover openings in rain barrels.

To report a dead blue jay or crow, call 519-663-5317 ext. 2300 or visit https com://www.healthunit.com/report-a-dead-bird to submit a dead bird notification online.

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