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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, June 12, 2014 | 14 Halton Region begins larviciding to help prevent mosquito breeding by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff As mosquito season arrives with warm weather, Halton Region's Health Department is out to stop the insects from spreading West Nile Virus (WNV). Halton's Manager of the Enteric and Vectorborne Disease Program, Dimitra Kasimos, said approximately 36 pools of standing water in Halton have been treated with larvicide to reduce the local mosquito population. They include stormwater manage- ment ponds and roadside ditches where accumulated water creates a breeding ground for the insects. Twelve of the sites treated are in Oakville, with 17 in Burlington, one in Halton Hills and six in Milton. In total, there are approximately 200 stormwater management ponds and another 200 other standing water sites monitored for mosquito larva across Halton. Last week, the Region also began treating municipal catch basins with larvicide where necessary, according to Kasimos. "The product we use is effective for about 21 days, so every 21 days it will be applied throughout the summer," she said. "A little bit later on in the season, we start doing adult mosquito surveillance so we actually set up mosquito traps and collect adult mosquitoes and send them away for identification and testing to see if they actually have West Nile Virus." If any mosquitoes test positive, Kasimos said the public is notified that mosquitoes carrying WNV have been found in the area. "At this time of year, the risk for West Nile Virus is pretty low. We tend to get positive mosquitoes closer to the end of July and the beginning of August," said Kasimos. "The risk increases as we go through the summer." According to the Region's website, people of all ages can be infected with the virus. Of those infected, 80 per cent have no symptoms while almost 20 per cent experience West Nile fever, which consists of fever, headache, muscle ache and rash. In very serious cases, infected individuals can develop encephalitis and meningitis, however, this occurs in approximately one in 150 infections. Kasimos says residents can take precautions against mosquitoes. "Residents should avoid areas where there are lots of mosquitoes. During the day, they like shady, wooded places where it is cooler," she said. "The best thing to do is wear lightcoloured, loose-fitting clothing and an insect repellent containing DEET." People out in the evening should cover up when possible and remove standing water on their property. For more information, visit www. halton.ca/wnv. APPROVED PAT I O F URNITURE DA D FAT H E R S D AY | H OT T U B S | U M B R E L L AS | E N T E R TA I N M E N T & D E C O R | B B Q I S L A N D S | F I R E P I T S S AV I N G S ! & MORE ON OUR FULL RANGE OF ALL WEATHER POOLS SAVE UP TO FAMILY FUN SPA $ SAVE RUN LIMTE D ARRIV AL NEW 1500 · Stereo · LED Lights ALL YEAR! W E N L V I RR A A SWIM SW $ IN FREE OPTIONS AND UPGRADES 5000 · 40 Jets · 2 pumps NOW ONLY LY $ 6993 CHAT SETS STARTING AT T $ 999 W E N L V I RR A A SUMMERSET 5-7-11 PIECE DINING SETS 2013 STOCK PATIO SETS 50% OFF W E N VAL I R R A FIRE PITS ST LUCIA 12STYLES SELLE R W E N AL V I R R A W E N AL V I R R A #1 REGATTA DINING SECTIONALS STARTING AT T $ LIMITED QUANTITIES! 990 FRASER DRIVE, BURLINGTON 1199 W E N AL V I R R A APPROVED DA D WAS $3999 99 NOW ONLY LY $ 2999 905-592-0282 ARCTICHOTTUBS.CA Insta