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WINNIPEG – The cities of Winnipeg and Brandon are expanding their mosquito surveillance and identification services.
Acting Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen made the announcement in a press release on Monday, saying the goal was to mitigate the effects of West Nile virus.
“A key part of protecting Manitobans from West Nile virus is mosquito surveillance, which assesses risk every week during every season and ultimately guides the public health response,” he said.
“Deepening our partnership with the cities of Winnipeg and Brandon will provide vital data to inform our response and minimize the number of human cases of WNV that may have long-term health effects.
Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman said the city will expand the scope of its oversight to include rural municipalities within an hour and a half of Winnipeg by road. He noted that this will be on a cost recovery basis.
“We are excited to be able to more fully utilize the city’s expertise to help with West Nile virus surveillance and help minimize health impacts for residents of the province,” Bowman said in the statement.
Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest said the city has been using a mosquito control program for decades.
“We are delighted to partner with the province to ensure that a concerted effort is made to reduce the possibility of mosquito populations and WNV,” he said.
Cities will report surveillance and identification data to the province on a weekly basis to determine what action to take to protect the health of the public. The contracts are in place for the 2021 season.
According to the Manitoba government, mosquito surveillance involves trapping adult mosquitoes at different locations across the province. Manitoba then uses the surveillance data to determine seasonal trends and rates of West Nile virus infection. This allows the province to determine if there is sufficient risk of exposure to require mosquito control, as well as targeted communications with the public.
WHAT IS WEST NILE VIRUS?
West Nile virus is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes that can cause encephalitis, which is swelling of the brain. It can also lead to long term complications and death.
Some people infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms, while others have symptoms such as headache, fever, fatigue, and muscle aches.
The risk of contracting West Nile virus varies each year depending on rainfall, temperature and mosquito populations.
Goertzen added that Manitobans can protect the health care system by protecting themselves against West Nile virus.
Between 2012 and 2018, there were 112 cases of West Nile virus in Manitoba. The province noted that nearly 40 percent of those cases were hospitalized and 11 percent required intensive care.
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