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Planning for West Nile
Virus
In anticipation of the 2003 West Nile virus (WNv) season the Health Unit developed a
West Nile virus Prevention and Control Plan to help to minimize human cases of West
Nile virus within the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Health Unit geographical area. The
plan has several components including animal and human surveillance, public
education, and mosquito control. Animal indicators of the disease were monitored to
determine if the virus was present throughout our region. Four crows tested positive
for the virus in our district thus making it safe to assume that the virus was
present throughout our region in 2003. As of the end of September all mosquitoes
have tested negative for the virus in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark. Mosquito
monitoring continues until at least one heavy frost has occurred. Human surveillance
was completed through regular contact with local hospital staff to determine if any
unusually high numbers of meningitis or encephalitis were present within our
hospitals. As of the end of September there were no known human cases of WNv in
Leeds, Grenville and Lanark.
Public education was an important aspect of our plan and was completed in
conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. This was accomplished
through an advertising campaign, door-to-door mail outs, press releases and public
presentations. The goal of our public education program was to educate citizens
about WNv and how they could personally protect themselves against the virus. The
goal of our mosquito control efforts was to help eliminate the possibility of human
cases within our region. Our Health Unit contracted a pest control company to apply
larvicides in catch basins within communities, with more than 100 homes and had a
storm water infrastructure. Standing water was also treated in large urban areas and
in areas where WNv activity was present. |
Leeds,
Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit -
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