West Nile Virus

Based on information provided by the Region of Waterloo Public Health Unit, Conestoga College supports any permit application for West Nile Virus control submitted to the Ministry of the Environment from an appropriately licensed exterminator. Several times during the summer months a larvacide is applied into standing water and/ or catch basins on lands owned by Conestoga College.

Public Health Roles In Ontario

Health Units

For WNV control, Health Units are to carry out appropriate surveillance activities to permit risk assessments for WNV to be performed within their respective jurisdictions. Under the Control of West Nile Virus Regulation Health Units are required to take measures deemed necessary to prepare for and prevent, if possible, the contracting of WNV illness within their communities. Each Health Unit is to maintain a regular communication link with their public to ensure that current information on WNV within the Health Unit is widely shared.

Planned Activities

• General public education messages reinforce protective clothing: wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods of time, or when mosquitoes are most active. Clothing should be light-colored and made of tightly woven materials that keep mosquitoes away from the skin. The use of mesh "bug jackets" or "bug hats" is recommended.
• If West Nile virus is found in a community, advisories will be issued to remind residents to:
  • Minimize unprotected time spent outdoors at all times, and particularly between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
  • Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure and to protect small babies when outdoors.
  • Consider the use of mosquito repellents and use according to directions when it is necessary to be outdoors.

Prevention And Control Objective

To control vector mosquito populations through the use of Integrated Pest Management techniques. Mosquitoes breed quickly and use standing water containing decaying organic materials to lay their eggs. Common larval development sites include catch basins, discarded tires, poorly maintained bird baths, artificial containers, any refuse that allows standing water to puddle, clogged drain gutters, unused swimming and plastic wading pools, storm drains, pots and pans with standing water, standing pools of ground water and puddles that last for a week or more.

Source Reduction Encouragement

• Targeting the elimination of larval development sites (referred to as Source Reduction) is the simplest and most effective larval control to reduce the number of vectors (mosquitoes). The MOHLTC public education campaign emphasizes personal protective measures and homeowner guidelines to reduce vector larval development sites on personal property. The local Health Unit emphasizes elimination of larval development sites within their local communities at a resident level, including commercial sites, which are often significant sources of potential larval development.
• In addition, the Health Unit should lead local municipal attention to appropriate larval control measures in municipally controlled bodies of water catch basins; ponds; sewage treatment plants; drainage systems; storm water management ponds, etc.
• For additional information on larvicides and adulticides, license and permit requirements and public notification, refer to the fact sheets and permit applicant guides posted on the MOE website at www.ene.gov.on.ca and link to the West Nile Virus icon.