Local case of West Nile virus poses low threat, officials say

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This article was published 02/08/2022 (631 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

West Nile virus has landed in Brandon, but so far it appears to be a low risk to the population, the province says.

A culex tarsalis mosquito found in a local trap for the week of July 17-23 tested positive for the virus, according to the province’s latest West Nile virus activity report.

While the virus has been detected in Brandon, a single mosquito doesn’t mean it’s an immediate threat to public health.

The province will monitor results from mosquito traps, and if there is increased activity, the government will send an order to fog, explained Merrilea Price, corporate communications officer for the City of Brandon.

“Right now, because it’s only a 0.1 per cent count right now, it’s not high enough for them to issue an order,” she said.

The city has already conducted two foggings to reduce the urban mosquito population, but with a cooler and wetter spring and flooding that didn’t abate until late June, Price said the conditions have been ideal for mosquitoes to breed and multiply in large numbers.

“We have a whole parks and recreation crew that monitors for mosquitoes,” she said. “We send the trap counts into Winnipeg, then they do a review and send us back the results. Beyond that, they are keeping track on any standing water on city property and do what they can and we recommend residents do what they can to drain standing water on their property to stop mosquitoes from breeding.”

The crew is part of the city’s mosquito abatement program, which works to control populations to make them less of a nuisance for residents, as well as lower the risk of spreading diseases, Price said.

The city’s website says staff monitor a control area of 264 square kilometres surrounding the city, with the western boundary at 66th Street, the southern boundary at the Brandon Gun Club, the eastern boundary at 49th Street East, and the northern boundary at the Brandon Municipal Airport.

The program is mostly larval control, with standing pools of water closely monitored and then treated with larvicide based on an average of samples in a particular area of standing water.

Weekly mosquito trap counts are posted on the city’s website as well.

Standing water is the ideal place for mosquitoes to lay their eggs, Price said. The larvae live underwater until they mature and emerge as adult mosquitoes. The best way to cut their numbers is to remove any standing water. This includes draining puddles and items that may have water collecting in them, cleaning eavestroughs and regularly changing bird baths and outdoor fountains.

Also, to stop mosquitoes from getting indoors, make sure all windows have tight-fitting screens and keeping doors closed.

For those with rain barrels, cover them with screens or solid covers to prevent mosquitoes from entering.

“Everything helps when it’s a wet year,” said Price.

People can also help reduce their risk of contracting the virus by taking a number of precautions, Price said. A few recommendations include spraying insect repellent on exposed skin, wearing light-coloured clothing, avoiding areas where there is known high activity for mosquitoes, and limiting time outdoors during the dawn and dusk hours, when mosquitoes are the most active.

According to the provincial government’s website, West Nile is spread through the bites of certain species of mosquito. In Manitoba’s case, the culex tarsalis mosquito is most likely to carry the virus.

In the southern parts of the province, mosquito activity is highest between June and September. Symptoms of West Nile virus include fever, severe headache, muscle weakness and confusion.

The virus can cause severe illness such as paralysis, coma, encephalitis (brain swelling), long-term complications, and death in some cases. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for the virus. There has been one positive human case of the virus in Manitoba this year. There were six in 2021, including two that were severe West Nile Virus Neurological Syndrome.

The West Nile virus activity report is updated every Wednesday and can be found at bit.ly/3zON9Jc.

More information on symptoms and risks can be found at gov.mb.ca/health/wnv/.

» kmckinley@brandonsun.com

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