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Surveillance Effort Identifies Mosquitoes with West Nile Virus in Middlesex County

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London, ON – The Middlesex-London Health Unit announced this afternoon that mosquitoes from a trap in Mount Brydges have tested positive for West Nile Virus. The news marks the second time in two weeks that a trap in the region had been found to contain mosquitoes capable of transmitting the virus to people, and shows that West Nile Virus activity is becoming more widespread in London and Middlesex County. The first positive mosquito trap, located in London’s Pond Mills area, was announced on August 15th.

“Finding positive mosquito traps in both the city and the county is an indication that West Nile Virus activity is present over a wide part of our area this summer,” says Jeremy Hogeveen, Vector-Borne Disease Coordinator at the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “We’ve known for a few weeks that West Nile Virus was present in the community, so these findings are a reminder that while summer is winding down, we still need to take steps to protect ourselves from mosquito bites.”

To reduce the risk of mosquito bites, the Health Unit recommends wearing light-coloured clothing and using a bug repellant that contains DEET, making sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions for applying the product. Parents of young children can also discourage mosquito bites by placing netting over strollers when out for a walk with their infants. In addition, residents can reduce the places where mosquitoes breed and grow by removing standing water from common home and yard areas including eavestroughs, flower pots, bird baths and any other objects where standing water can accumulate.

While 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; less than one percent of all people who become infected with the virus will get seriously ill.

The Health Unit’s Vector-Borne Disease Team monitors 23 adult mosquito traps located throughout London and Middlesex County each week. In addition, the Team has conducted weekly checks for mosquito larvae at some 250 standing water sites located on public property since the beginning of May and will continue to do so until the first hard frost of fall. Where mosquito larvae capable of carrying West Nile Virus are identified, a larvicide is applied to control them. This is in addition to the surveillance of 35,000 roadside catch basins in London and Middlesex County, which have just received their third and final treatments this summer.

For more information about West Nile Virus, call the Middlesex-London Health Unit at 519-663-5317, ext. 2300 or visit: www.healthunit.com/vector-borne-diseases-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

Tags: West Nile Virus, Mosquitoes