While the Thunder Bay area just reported its first case of a bird testing positive for West Nile virus, the Kenora-Rainy River districts still haven’t seen a sign of it.
But as part of the provincial campaign to monitor West Nile virus by collecting mosquito samples, the Northwestern Health Unit is setting up “mosquito traps” not only in Kenora but also in Rainy River District and Dryden.
Al Mathers, environmental health officer for the health unit, said Tuesday that the first traps were set out in Fort Frances on Monday evening. Kenora was expected to set out theirs Tuesday night.
Health unit staff in all three areas will use the traps to collect mosquito samples from now until the second week in September. The purpose is to determine what species of mosquito are most common here.
Mathers said the health unit originally wanted to get started last month and wrap up the trapping in August because the campaign—held for the first time last July through September in the Kenora area only—didn’t quite go as expected the first time around.
“It was difficult to do. We probably should have started earlier,” he noted. “We didn’t get too many [mosquitoes] collected. The weather wasn’t right, and then it got cold at night.”
Like last year, the health unit is expected—if at all possible—to send in at least two mosquitoes per week during the 10-week project.
To do the campaign, the health unit has received mosquito traps, which are comprised of a cylinder cooler, dry ice, a black light, fan, netting, and a small plastic bucket in which to collect the specimens.
The bugs are attracted by the carbon dioxide from the dry ice and black light. When they got close enough, they’re sucked into the netting by the fan.
The few specimens that were collected in Kenora last year were sent in small cups to Brock University in St. Catharines for testing. Mathers noted all of these came back negative for the West Nile virus.
But one successful aspect of the project was the discovery that less than one percent of all the samples collected last year were specimens of the main virus-carrying mosquito species, the Culex (or common house mosquito).
This means the chances of seeing the Culex breed (and thus the virus) here are slim, said Mathers.
Mosquito season usually tapers off in September, Mathers noted, adding any mosquitoes spotted in the latter part of that month are not likely looking for a “blood meal” but instead simply are interested in finding a place to go into stasis for the winter.
Mosquito activity usually ceases once the temperature drops below 12 C for an extended period of time, as was the case last September.
Meanwhile, Mathers said the Kenora-Rainy River districts have seen no sign of the disease among dead crows and ravens submitted for testing so far.
“Everything we’ve been sending in has been coming back negative,” he remarked, though adding that’s not too surprising because, in past years, any positive test results have shown up in early August (when mosquitoes that feed on both birds and mammals tend to predominate).
Since May 25, the health unit has been accepting dead crows and ravens that look like they may have succumbed to the virus and sending them away to the University of Guelph for testing.
“We haven’t had as many coming in as last year, but it’s been sufficient for our needs,” said Mathers.
He estimated that for both Kenora-Rainy River District, more than 20 crows and ravens have been sent away for testing since May 25.
The health unit will continue to collect reports of dead bird sightings, as well as submit crows for testing when considered appropriate, until the mosquito season definitely is over.
To report a suspiciously dead crow or raven, contact local public health officers Brian Norris or Dave Coats at the health unit office here during normal office hours, or call the after-hours number (1-807-468-7109) with the following information:
•your name, address, and phone number;
•location of the bird, including the town or municipality and street address (if it is a rural property, please provide as accurate a location description as possible);
•the date the bird was first noticed;
•description of the bird (note its size, and colour of the feathers, eyes, and beak);
•if you are aware the bird showed any signs of unusual behaviour before it died;
•physical condition of the bird (if there are any signs of trauma or insect activity); and
•the cause of death, if known.
The bird may be suitable for testing:
•if it has recently died;
•if there are no maggots on it; and
•even if it has signs of injury or trauma.
If the bird is suitable, the health unit will pick it up and send it away for testing.
If you are told by the health unit that the bird is not suitable for testing, bury it under at least two feet of earth, or place it in two leak-proof bags and discard it in the garbage.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
