本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Mosquitoes carrying the buzzing threat of the West Nile Virus across Ontario are the target of a new provincial plan to prevent the spread of the disease.
Tony Clement, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, announced today the government will spend $9 million to survey and destroy mosquito populations and to educate Ontarians on how to protect themselves against West Nile this summer.
Of the money, $7.5 million will be available to boards of health for control measures against both larval and adult mosquitoes, which are capable of transmitting the virus.
Local health units will also receive $1.3 million for additional surveillance, public education and local mapping and assessment for possible larvicide. The remaining $200,000 will fund the stand-by costs of a licensed pesticide applicator as a contingency measure.
Dr. Colin D'Cunha, Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario urged the public to take precautions.
"Remove places where mosquitoes can breed such as standing water in birdbaths, clean up garden clippings, repair or install screens in doors and windows and avoid places where mosquitoes may frequent, especially at dawn and dusk," D'Cunha said in a statement issued today.
Surveillance for West Nile Virus will continue through the early warning system of testing dead birds, as has been the procedure in the past two years, D'Cunha said.
Mosquitoes will be captured and tested in most health units across the province. Also, select testing of people with encephalitis, or flu-like symptoms will be conducted again this year.
West Nile is spread to humans by mosquitoes, who get the virus by biting infected birds.
Dead birds, especially crows, are often the first indication that the virus is present. There have been 38 confirmed West Nile cases among birds so far this year in southern Ontario. There have been no human cases in Canada to date.
The virus can cause meningitis or encephalitis, with symptoms ranging from fever, severe headaches and stiffness to confusion and muscle weakness.
The elderly and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk.
On Wednesday, health officials announced the first confirmed case of the virus in a bird in the Ottawa area this year.
The biggest West Nile scare of the season has been playing out further west, in Winnipeg.
A cluster of infected birds were discovered in the city in early July, prompting local officials to step up prevention efforts.
Despite a citizen protest against pesticide spraying in neighbourhoods to kill mosquitoes, the province ordered the city to carry out a massive fogging operation.
Manitoba is the furthest place west of Ontario the virus has been found in Canada. However, Regina has also started testing dead birds for the bug.
The virus has killed 18 people in the United States.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
Tony Clement, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, announced today the government will spend $9 million to survey and destroy mosquito populations and to educate Ontarians on how to protect themselves against West Nile this summer.
Of the money, $7.5 million will be available to boards of health for control measures against both larval and adult mosquitoes, which are capable of transmitting the virus.
Local health units will also receive $1.3 million for additional surveillance, public education and local mapping and assessment for possible larvicide. The remaining $200,000 will fund the stand-by costs of a licensed pesticide applicator as a contingency measure.
Dr. Colin D'Cunha, Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario urged the public to take precautions.
"Remove places where mosquitoes can breed such as standing water in birdbaths, clean up garden clippings, repair or install screens in doors and windows and avoid places where mosquitoes may frequent, especially at dawn and dusk," D'Cunha said in a statement issued today.
Surveillance for West Nile Virus will continue through the early warning system of testing dead birds, as has been the procedure in the past two years, D'Cunha said.
Mosquitoes will be captured and tested in most health units across the province. Also, select testing of people with encephalitis, or flu-like symptoms will be conducted again this year.
West Nile is spread to humans by mosquitoes, who get the virus by biting infected birds.
Dead birds, especially crows, are often the first indication that the virus is present. There have been 38 confirmed West Nile cases among birds so far this year in southern Ontario. There have been no human cases in Canada to date.
The virus can cause meningitis or encephalitis, with symptoms ranging from fever, severe headaches and stiffness to confusion and muscle weakness.
The elderly and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk.
On Wednesday, health officials announced the first confirmed case of the virus in a bird in the Ottawa area this year.
The biggest West Nile scare of the season has been playing out further west, in Winnipeg.
A cluster of infected birds were discovered in the city in early July, prompting local officials to step up prevention efforts.
Despite a citizen protest against pesticide spraying in neighbourhoods to kill mosquitoes, the province ordered the city to carry out a massive fogging operation.
Manitoba is the furthest place west of Ontario the virus has been found in Canada. However, Regina has also started testing dead birds for the bug.
The virus has killed 18 people in the United States.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net