Province OKs mosquito-control fogging for Portage, Ste. Anne

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This article was published 12/08/2021 (1682 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE province will soon fog Portage la Prairie and Ste. Anne for mosquitoes possibly infected with West Nile virus.

The Manitoba government has issued a ministerial order under the Environment Act to start pesticide use due to high numbers of adult Culex tarsalis mosquitoes with evidence of viral infection.

Depending on weather conditions, fogging will take place in and around those communities beginning as early as this evening, the province said.

Hot and dry weather has created ideal conditions for the West Nile-carrying mosquitoes this year, the province said in mid-July.

August is historically a high-risk period for human infection. While most people infected do not develop symptoms, at its worst, the virus can cause lifelong disability or death.

No human cases have been identified yet in Manitoba this year. However, between 2012 and 2018, there were 112 cases of West Nile in the province; nearly 40 per cent required hospitalization and 11 required intensive care.

The province said Wednesday taking precautions helps protect the health-care system, which is still strained amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Precautions include typical advice against mosquitoes: reduce the amount of time spent outdoors at dusk and dawn; use mosquito repellent; wear light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves and pant legs; maintain door and window screens; and clean and empty items in yards that collect water, where mosquitos can breed.

It marks the second order issued to fog for mosquitoes possibly infected with West Nile in seven days. Last week, the province authorized action in the north Winnipeg neighbourhoods of Inkster and Seven Oaks, as well as the Rural Municipality of West St. Paul.