By Staff.
Burlington, ON. August 14th, 2013.
The Halton Region Health Department has been notified by the Public Health Ontario – Toronto Laboratory of Halton’s first probable human case of West Nile virus (WNV) illness for 2013: a female in her fifties from Oakville.
Exposure to WNV was possibly local, but it may have been during travel outside Ontario. At the same time, Health Department staff report a batch of mosquitoes trapped last week in Milton tested positive for WNV, the first batch for Milton this year. WNV has now been detected in all four Halton local municipalities – Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills.
“This case of human illness and the additional positive mosquito trap underscore the need to protect yourself from mosquito bites from now until the hard frosts of fall set in,” said Dr. Monir Taha, Halton Region’s Associate Medical Officer of Health. “This message is particularly important for older adults or those with underlying illnesses because they are at higher risk for more serious West Nile virus illness.”
In Halton, the months of highest risk for human WNV illness are August and September. About 80% of people who become infected with WNV do not experience any illness, while about 20% will develop West Nile fever. Less than 1% will develop inflammation of the brain or its lining, or a type of paralysis.
This is how West Nile virus is transferred to human beings.
Mosquitoes are the transfer agent for the virus.
A batch of mosquitoes trapped last week in Burlington has tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). This is the first batch of WNV positive mosquitoes for Burlington this year, the third positive batch for Halton including two batches previously found in Oakville. Additionally, an animal in Halton Hills tested positive for WNV.
The following are steps that residents can take to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes:
Cover up. Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants with tightly woven fabric.
Avoid being outdoors from early evening to morning when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite, as well as at any time in shady, wooded areas.
Reduce mosquito breeding sites around your home by getting rid of all water-filled containers and objects. Change the water in bird baths at least once per week.
Use an approved insect repellent, such as one containing DEET.
Make sure your window and door screens are tight and in good repair.
For people in north Burlington close to the Air Park construction work the West Nile Virus is a very serious concern because there are large pools of open water due to the construction that was taking place. In a report to an Appleby Line resident the Region advised that the mosquito larvae collected on July 12, 2013 from the Burlington Airpark property located next to 5199 Appleby Line in Burlington were identified as vector species (species that can potentially carry West Nile Virus). This means that the standing water sites must be treated with larvicide or remediated to reduce the risk of WNV.
According to residents in north Burlington – that remediation work had not been done by sunset of August 13th.
Ths only reason I have standing water in certain locations on my property is the due to water being drained onto my property from the airpark. This has been done under the direct supervision of Matthew and John Hutter.
It took some time to line up an approved larvicide company and for Halton to approve the application. With all this going on prior to the long weekend, things didn’t progress as quickly as we hoped. It’s looked after. Enjoy the rest of the summer.
Editor’s note:
At 4.58m on the 16th Hutter said: “The truth is that all standing water that cannot be drained on the airport property has been treated by a Halton approved, licensed company. This was done weeks ago under direction of the aiport owner.”
It was only when someone came forward with facts that we now hear Mr. Hutter changing his story and that has been the problem with the work being done at the Air Park – the story keeps changing. That is why no one trusts them anymore and it is why Councillor Craven asked the4 Air Park lawyer why Mr. Rossi, owner of the Air Park was such a lousy neighbour.
It was addressed weeks ago, and treated last week. Treatment will continue until the threat is gone, or until the mosquito season is over.
Comments like yours are unnecessary and just cause problems for all parties involved.
Editors note:
Comments do cause problems. Did King Paving feel it could play with the facts and hope their PR treatment would become a truth?
Shame on you, Mr. Hutter.
Mr. Hutter – the neighbors near the Airpark were informed that MOE permits which are required to larvicide were just issued this week to the Airpark.
Furthermore, the signs put up by the larvicide company indicate that they only began treating the standing water this week – on Wednesday August 14th to be exact – not weeks ago as per your post.
Just sayin’….
I don’t generally read this media website. A few friends of mine do and alerted me to this particular article. The truth is that all standing water that cannot be drained on the airport property has been treated by a Halton approved, licensed company. This was done weeks ago under direction of the aiport owner. So residence near the perimeter of the airport can feel safe walking around the property. Any untreated standing water on there own property would be there only concern.