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Fogging on hold in Brandon

Crews ready to battle West Nile dangers

By: Ian Hitchen

Posted: 08/4/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Culex tarsalis mosquitoes (WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES) Photo Store

BRANDON -- Mosquitoes infected with the West Nile virus continue to buzz about southern Manitoba, but the province hasn't ordered Brandon to fog yet, as officials say trap counts remain low.

City trucks and malathion-spraying equipment stands at the ready, but the province's chief public health officer hasn't given the go-ahead to spray.

"Manitoba Health is not recommending adult mosquito control at this time in our area," Perry Roque, the city's director of community services, said Friday as he shared the latest trap count statistics for the city.

Manitoba Health ordered fogging in Portage la Prairie on Wednesday after a number of West Nile-infected mosquitoes were discovered in city traps.

Last week, Manitoba Health advised Brandon to make sure its spraying equipment is ready.

Two blood donors in Winnipeg were found to have the virus during blood screening by Canadian Blood Services.

And on Friday, a blood donor in Regina tested positive for West Nile virus, The Canadian Press reported.

And while the latest numbers available suggest that the trap counts for infected mosquitoes are growing, there's been no order to spray.

In Brandon, from July 22 to 28, six samples were found with West Nile-positive mosquitoes. During the week prior, there were two.

From July 15 to 21, the average count per trap of Culex tarsalis mosquitoes in Brandon -- infected or not -- was 71. For July 22 to 28, that average was 69.5.

Culex tarsalis mosquitoes are the type most likely to transmit West Nile virus to humans in Manitoba.

Meanwhile, across southwestern and central Manitoba, 28 samples had mosquitoes that tested positive.

It's the province's chief public health officer who makes the call whether to order malathion spraying in a particular community to counter the threat of the West Nile virus.

There are several factors in that decision, but a major one is the degree to which West Nile virus is found in trapped Culex tarsalis mosquitoes.

Brandon gets a report on mosquito counts each Thursday.

Roque said four city trucks are equipped and ready if the province gives the go-ahead to fog.

"We're prepared and our equipment is set on our trucks and calibrated and set to go if the province asks us to spray," he said.

It takes about 24 hours for city sprayers to hit the streets after an order is given. The city has to first notify agencies such as the regional health authority, long-term care homes and the public in general.

-- Brandon Sun

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 4, 2012 A5

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