Monitoring of dead birds for West Nile Virus will be carried out in Prince Edward Island again this summer.
West Nile Virus is carried by birds and spread by some mosquitoes after biting a bird and then a human. Although it was found in several states last year, and identified in birds in southern Ontario, no case of human illness due to the virus has ever been diagnosed in Canada.
Chief Health Officer Dr. Lamont Sweet advised that Prince Edward Island continues to work collaboratively with other provinces to monitor for the virus in birds, and to provide information to the public on how to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes.
Birds most commonly infected by the virus are crows, blue jays and ravens. Islanders are asked to report sightings of dead crows, blue jays, and ravens by calling the Wildlife Division of the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment at (902) 368-4683. The Department will arrange to pick up the birds for testing.
Dr. Sweet advised that only a few species of mosquitoes are likely to spread the virus to humans should it ever reach the province, and therefore it would not be helpful to prevent illness from West Nile Virus through wide-scale mosquito spraying programs. "The most effective way to control the spread of the virus is through public education programs to help people control the mosquito population on their own properties, and advise them of measures to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes," he said.
Residents can prevent being bitten by mosquitoes by reducing breeding places for mosquitoes. This can be done by removing water from birdbaths, wheelbarrows, eaves troughs, toys, pet bowls, wading pools and other containers where water may accumulate.
Other preventive measures include screening of rain barrels and windows to prevent entry by mosquitoes, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants at dawn and dusk, and using insect repellents to discourage mosquitoes from biting.
Dr. Sweet advised that although cases in humans are rare, the virus can cause an infection with symptoms of encephalitis or meningitis. Symptoms include headache, fever, stiff neck, vomiting, drowsiness, muscle weakness, confusion and/or coma.
Brochures and fact sheets on West Nile Virus can be obtained by contacting the Health Information Resource Centre at 368-6526 or 1-800-241-6970.