Threat of West Nile Virus Grows

As the weather warms up and lots of standing water, we can expect the mosquito population will be on the increase. With that comes the potential for West Nile Virus infections.

Five Hills Health Region Medical Health Officer, Dr. Mark Vooght, says we should now begin to take precautions. "We're expecting the second generation of culex tarsalis to hatch out between the 15th of June and the 15th of July and that's going to be a pretty high risk of infection for humans if the mosquitoes themselves are infected."

The culex tarsalis is a mosquito known to carry West Nile Virus and was recently discovered in Regina.

Dr. Vooght says the Health Region is no longer collecting dead crows or other corvid species for study. He says if you find a dead crow, use gloves to pick it up, double bag it and dispose of it in your regular garbage.