Mosquitoes

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Public Advisory

There is an MOH Class Order in place, effective July 17th, for Grey and Bruce County that orders all Commercial Establishments to take actions related to the use of face coverings, ensure effective measures to maintain physical distancing and to ensure the availability of hand sanitizer. For full details, visit the MOH Class Orders page. Also view, FAQ for Masks and Face Coverings.

Mosquitoes

Mosquito

West Nile Virus (WNV)

West Nile virus is carried by mosquitoes that become infected by feeding on an infected bird. If an infected mosquito bites you, it can spread the disease onto you. Everyone in Ontario who spends time near infected mosquitos could get West Nile.[1]

Government of Canada: Learn about West Nile Virus, its causes, symptoms, risks, treatment, prevention and surveillance. Also find information for health professionals.

Public Health Ontario: Learn about data and analysis, guidance and best practice, laboratory testing, and more.

Human Surveillance (human cases):

West Nile Virus Illness Rates (for all ages, all sexes in Ontario)
- Note: can search by area (e.g., Grey Bruce)
West Nile Virus Surveillance (by week)
- Updated case counts are available every Wednesday during WNV season. Data from previous years is updated annually.

Vector Surveillance (mosquito trapping):

The Grey Bruce Health Unit uses light traps to catch mosquitoes. The mosquitoes are sent to a lab for viral testing (e.g., WNV and EEEV).

Year	Number of Trap Sites	Number of Positive Pools for WNV	Mosquito Species	Location of Positive Pool
2017	3	0
2018	15	1	Cx. Pipiens/restuans	Municipality of Meaford
2019	17	*season has not begun

For more information:

Animal Health and WNV:

Please contact your veterinarian if you are concerned about your animals’ health.

Fact Sheet for Animal Owners (WNV)
The Grey Bruce Health Unit does not accept birds for viral testing. The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative tests dead birds for West Nile virus in geographical areas with a sufficiently high risk. They do this in collaboration with provincial laboratories and the National Microbiology Laboratory

Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus (EEEV)

CDC - Centers for Disease Control: Learn about prevention and treatment, signs and symptoms, and more.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus: History and Enhanced Surveillance in Ontario

Vector Surveillance (mosquito trapping):

Year	Number of Trap Sites	Number of Positive Pools for EEEV	Mosquito Species	Location of Positive Pool
2017	3	0
2018	15	0
2019	17	*season has not begun

Animal Health and EEEV:

Please contact your veterinarian if you are concerned about your animals’ health.

Fact Sheet for Animal Owners (EEEV)

[1] Ontario. (April 9, 2019). West Nile Virus. Retrieved from: https://www.ontario.ca/page/west-nile-virus

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