West Nile Virus Risk Reduction Program - Plans for Mosquito Larval Control
The District of Coldstream has initiated a West Nile Virus Risk Reduction Program with grant funding and assistance from the Ministry of Health Services.
Current Status of West Nile Virus
The current West Nile virus program consists of mosquito monitoring and control as well as public education. There are presently over eight mosquito traps and approximately 30 species of mosquitoes within the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO). Only a few of these species have been implicated in West Nile virus transmission. Priorities are presently focused on searching for these species, finding their breeding sites and then treating them in their larval stages. Mosquito larvae of West Nile virus transmitting species have been located in catch basins and standing water throughout the Regional District of North Okanagan.
In the District of Coldstream, we are monitoring the lagoon and ditches in the Postill Drive, Kalavista Drive and Tebo Drive area. We will be requiring passage over a number of private properties in order to access all areas of the lagoon and ditches for monitoring and mosquito control.
West Nile Virus Control
All treatments of larva are conducted with a biological control with the active ingredient Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis. This naturally occurring soil organism kills mosquitoes in their larval stage without harming other insects, or animals. All treatments are being conducted under the Ministry of Health Pesticide Use Permit #776-001-2003/2008 which can be viewed at http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/pho/wnv.html.
Public Education and Prevention
Public education events will be held throughout the RDNO, including various venues in Vernon, Enderby and Armstrong. To reduce the risk of West Nile virus, people should concentrate on reducing mosquito breeding sites around their property. Landowners should empty standing water in plastic containers, wheelbarrows and old tires. Make sure that eavestroughs are free of debris and are draining properly. Keep swimming pool covers free of standing water and leaf-litter. Install water agitators (i.e. fountains) in ornamental ponds and place screens over rain barrels to discourage female mosquitoes from laying eggs on the surface of the water. People should also protect themselves from being bitten by wearing light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants in the morning and evening when mosquitoes are most active. Also, individuals should consider using mosquito repellants containing DEET or Lemon Oil of Eucalyptus according to the label directions. For more information concerning West Nile virus, please visit the British Columbia Center for Disease Control website at www.bccdc.org.
For more information contact:
Cheryl Phippen, BSc, RN
President, BWP Consulting Inc.
Phone: 250-573-1750