West Nile Virus detected in mosquitoes caught in Mississauga
Posted June 30, 2017 4:55 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Peel Region officials say a batch of mosquitoes collected this past week in Mississauga has tested positive for West Nile Virus.
The mosquitoes were collected from one of the 33 traps established by Peel Public Health near Dixie Road and Lakeshore Road East.
Peel Public Health says there have been no confirmed cases of West Nile Virus this season and to date, no human cases of the virus have been reported in Ontario.
“With this recent confirmation of West Nile activity, we are increasing our efforts in south Mississauga and the surrounding area by looking for breeding sites and re-treating catch basins with larvicide,” says Paul Callanan, Director of Health Protection at the Region of Peel.
The very wet spring experienced throughout the GTA has created perfect breeding grounds of mosquitoes. Peel Public Health officials warn that as the temperatures rise, so do the chances of contracting West Nile Virus from mosquitoes that are more active in hot weather.
Residents are being encouraged to do their part to control the mosquito population by removing any standing water and items that collect water on their property which are prime breeding sites.
