PROVINCE OUTLINES WEST NILE VIRUS CONTINGENCY PLANS

An extensive report issued by Saskatchewan Health today describes personal protection, reduction of mosquito breeding grounds and killing mosquitoes before they hatch as the main tools to be used in the province's fight against West Nile Virus.

The Saskatchewan West Nile Provincial Response Framework was prepared by the municipal and provincial agencies on the West Nile Virus working group. It outlines the full range of activities already underway or being contemplated; they are a progression of increasingly intensive measures based on the degree of public health risk. The most intensive measure would be chemical sprays to kill adult mosquitoes (adulticiding), which might need to be considered if human health is at serious risk.

"Weather conditions, combined with extensive measures to prevent mosquitoes from hatching, have kept the mosquito population low throughout much of the province. However, late August and early September are higher-risk periods because of population increases in the mosquito species capable of carrying the virus," Saskatchewan's Deputy Medical Health Officer Dr. Eric Young said. "Although it would be a temporary and last-resort measure, if we do experience human cases, public health and municipal officials may have to consider area-specific, targeted spraying."

Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency recently reviewed malathion and approved it for use in residential areas to kill adult mosquitoes. It has been used in Manitoba and the United States.

The decision to use malathion for mosquito control would be made at the local level jointly by the regional medical health officer and the local municipality, in consultation with Saskatchewan Health.

"There is no simple formula in deciding to do adulticiding," Young said. "We would look at a number of factors such as the number of human cases, the numbers and species of mosquitoes present, the weather and time of year, as well as what local measures had already been implemented. A high public health risk would need to exist before spraying would be considered.

"If area-specific spraying is required, public notices will be issued and advice would be provided on how people could reduce personal exposure to the product. Even if mosquito populations increase dramatically, the main preventative measures will be covering up, applying DEET-based mosquito repellent, avoiding times and places of high mosquito activity, and eliminating breeding sites," Young said.

As the province finalizes its strategy, members of the public are invited to provide their views by August 25 on the potential malathion spraying by reviewing the draft West Nile Provincial Response Framework at www.health.gov.sk.ca or by calling 1-800-667-7766 to receive a printed summary.

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For More Information, Contact:

Mark Rathwell Health Regina Phone: (306)787-4083