Provincial government and UPEI's Atlantic Veterinary College staff are working together to monitor potential cases of West Nile Virus in the province.
Although the virus has never been diagnosed in Canada, provinces are taking precautionary measures following an outbreak in New York last summer.
The West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes who have fed on infected birds.
"Although the risk of West Nile Virus reaching Canada is unknown, any risk is worth our efforts towards prevention," said Dr. Lamont Sweet, Chief Health Officer. "The public is asked to take a common sense approach to protect themselves against mosquito bites such as wearing mosquito repellent and removing sources of stagnant water from their properties."
The Atlantic Veterinary College is implementing a program to monitor unusual sightings of dead birds. The public is asked to report unusual numbers of dead birds in their area or unusual behaviour by the birds such as tremors or difficulty walking or flying. Sightings should be reported to either the Atlantic Veterinary College at 566 0667 or a Provincial Wildlife Conservation Officer at 368 4683.
PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY - MOSQUITO CONTROL (June 13, 2000)
Mosquitoes are potential carriers of the West Nile virus. Dr. Lamont Sweet, Chief Health Officer, suggests steps that can be taken to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home.
- Eliminate standing water in such things as pool covers, flower pots, children's toys, old tires, etc.
- Clean clogged roof gutters on an annual basis, particularly if the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug up the drains. Roof gutters are easily overlooked but can produce millions of mosquitoes each season.
- Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use. A wading pool becomes a mosquito producer if it is not used on a regular basis.
- Turn over wheelbarrows and change water on bird baths at least twice weekly. Both provide breeding habitat for domestic mosquitoes.
- Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens may become major mosquito producers if they are allowed to stagnate.
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools that are not being used.
- Use landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property. Mosquitoes can develop in any puddle that lasts more than four to eight days.
- Mosquito breeding around the home can be reduced significantly by reducing the amount of standing water available for mosquitoes.
PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY - UNUSUAL SIGHTINGS OF DEAD BIRDS (JUNE 13, 2000)
Island residents are being asked to report unusual behaviour or deaths among wild birds including crows, ravens, blue jays, raptors, pigeons and robins.
Unusual behaviour such as tremors or difficulty walking or flying should be reported to the Atlantic Veterinary College at 566 0667 or a Provincial Wildlife Conservation Officer at 368 4683.
There is no need to submit birds which have died due to an obvious accident or have begun to decompose.
Dead birds should be handled using rubber gloves, double-bagged and placed in the refrigerator until picked up by a conservation officer.
There have been no cases of West Nile Virus in Canada.
No cases have been reported in other areas from handling dead birds.