FRANCAIS

October 25, 2002

This update provides a summary of Manitoba's West Nile virus statistics for this year. Any additional results will be posted on the Manitoba Health Web site at: http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/wnv.

• There have been no human cases of West Nile virus diagnosed in Manitoba.
• The total number of confirmed positive birds from the crow family is 88.
• The total number of confirmed positive horses in Manitoba is 147.
• The total number of sentinel chickens confirmed positive in Manitoba is seven.
• The total number of mosquito pools confirmed positive is 15.
• Other creatures that have tested positive in Manitoba include: one flock of domestic geese, one captive snowy owl, one duck and one wild Canada goose.
• The province’s summer bird surveillance program ended on Friday, Sept. 27, 2002.
• The program was undertaken by Manitoba Health, Manitoba Agriculture and Food, Manitoba Conservation, the City of Winnipeg, the Canadian Co-operative Wildlife Health Centre, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada. The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health wishes to thank all those Manitobans who participated in the surveillance program.
• It is likely that the virus will continue to be found in Manitoba in the future. Information about next year's surveillance program will be made available in the new year.
• Manitobans are reminded that the risk of illness for any individual remains low. However, when the spring season arrives, Manitobans should be aware of steps to protect themselves and minimize mosquito bites by:
• fixing screens;
• wearing protective clothing;
• using mosquito repellent with DEET; and
• reducing the amount of time spent outdoors during peak mosquito hours at dawn and dusk.
• Manitobans can reduce standing water in their yards next season by doing such things as cleaning out eavestroughs, clearing yards of debris that can hold water such as old tires, buckets, wheelbarrows and empty planters, and storing or covering containers so they do not collect water.

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