Province to begin spraying for mosquitos in Winkler Friday as West Nile concerns rise

CBC

13 hours ago

The province plans to begin spraying for mosquitoes in and around Winkler, Man., this week, due to high numbers of the insects, and evidence of a high rate of mosquito infection with West Nile virus in the southern Manitoba city.
According to a Thursday bulletin, the province will begin spraying for adult mosquitoes with DeltaGard 20EW in the city of Winkler on Friday, weather permitting, as well as in an approximately three kilometre extended zone around the city. The extended zone includes the communities of Reinfeld, Chortitz and Schanzenfeld.
The spraying is expected to take place overnight between Friday and Saturday this weekend, and a second time overnight between Monday and Tuesday of next week.
Public health officials said recent warm, humid conditions were ideal for Culex tarsalis mosquitoes that can spread the West Nile virus (WNV).
"The risk for potential human exposure to WNV at this time is high in the Southern Health-Santé Sud region, and is considered very high in Winkler and surrounding area," the province said.
The province added the risk will likely continue during the "historical high-risk period" between mid-July and mid-August, but said as of Thursday no locally acquired human cases of West Nile virus have been confirmed in Manitoba.
Health officials are also recommending that anyone participating in outdoor activities in and around Winkler, and other areas in southern Manitoba, take steps to reduce the risk of mosquito bites and potential exposure to the virus, including reducing the amount of time spent outdoors during peak mosquito hours between dusk and dawn, and using an appropriate mosquito repellent.
According to the province, DeltaGard 20EW, the insecticide used for mosquito fogging in Manitoba, is classified as a reduced-risk pesticide, and when applied using ultra-low volume methods is unlikely to affect human health.
West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause severe illness including encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and can sometimes result in long-term complications and death, and the province said it only takes a single bite from an infected mosquito to contract the virus.