July 14, 2005
Health Minister Tim Sale has signed a public health order under the Environment Act to begin spraying for adult mosquitoes with malathion in the Rural Municipality of West St. Paul and the city of Winnipeg because of high numbers of adult Culex tarsalis mosquitoes and evidence of infection with West Nile virus.
Sale made the request for the health order to Conservation Minister Stan Struthers.
“We have always followed the advice of our public health officials to help reduce the risk of West Nile virus for Manitobans. This advice is based on scientific evidence,” said Sale. “Manitobans are urged to take steps to help protect themselves by using an appropriate mosquito repellent, reducing time spent outdoors between dusk and dawn, wearing long-sleeved clothing and long pants that are light-coloured and loose-fitting, and ensuring that doors and window screens are in good repair so as to reduce access of mosquitoes to the indoors.”
Sale added that intensified larviciding is underway across Manitoba and the province is continuing its mosquito surveillance efforts throughout the province.
Adult mosquito control is just one of many components of the province’s West Nile virus program. The provincial program oversees several other important components of the program including surveillance, mapping and larviciding.
Adult mosquito control occurs in the evening and at night depending on weather conditions and will begin within the next two days, weather conditions permitting. Health Canada finds the ultra-low volume application of malathion a safe practice for the control of adult mosquitoes that pose a nuisance or public-health hazard.
However, general precautions are suggested any time pesticides are used including:
closing all doors and windows;
avoiding trucks while spraying is underway;
turning off fans and air conditioners or setting them at exhaust;
removing clothes and children’s toys from outdoor areas;
washing any household items or toys left outside before using them; and
ensuring fruits and vegetables are washed.
For more information, visit http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/wnv or call Health Links at 1‑888-315-9257 or 788-8200 in Winnipeg.
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