Unprecedented conditions lead to entire city being fogged
WINNIPEG - JULY 14, 2005, 3:00 p.m. -
Due to the current unprecedented and rapid emergence of nuisance mosquitoes and the challenging environmental conditions, the City of Winnipeg will begin fogging tonight and will be fogging all areas of the city of Winnipeg within the next seven (7) days, weather permitting.
Ursula Stelman, Director of Community Services explains: This is in no way a typical mosquito control season by any criteria. Our information indicates that this may, in fact, end up being a historic and unprecedented insect control season. Given the changed environmental reality, made more severe as the rains, coupled with heat, continue, the branch has had to fundamentally change its approach from a primarily proactive larviciding and barrier treatment program to a city-wide fogging program for nuisance mosquito control. We absolutely understand that Winnipeggers want to be able to enjoy our short summer season without being irritated by an intolerable level of nuisance mosquitoes.
The AFA rating remains high and, as of yesterday afternoon, the nuisance mosquito traps (New Jersey Light Traps), which are strategically placed throughout and around Winnipeg and which are monitored daily as one of the AFA factors, indicated the following counts:
- Within Winnipeg: Westwood 424; Charleswood West 33; Tuxedo 3,392; River Heights 120; East Elmwood 144; Transcona 75; West Kildonan 752; Windsor Park 520; St. Vital 216; Fort Richmond 296; McPhillips 1,104; Garden City 81; Brookside - 98
- Capital Region (within a 0 to 6 km radius surrounding Winnipeg): Headingley 13,824; MacDonald 192; West St. Paul 1,232; Ritchot 2,112; Springfield 612; East St. Paul 1,760; Rosser - 240
The 13 traps identified above within the city of Winnipeg are used to calculate the daily average trap count. These traps have historically been at these locations, and are used for historical comparison purposes.
In addition, the Insect Control Branch has recently added four (4) New Jersey Light traps in order to better monitor mosquito abundance. It should be noted that these traps are not included in the daily average trap count. As of yesterday afternoon, the counts for these new traps were as follows:
- Charleswood - 3,392; East Kildonan 352; Island Lakes 648; St. James 244
The New Jersey Light Traps are intended to monitor nuisance mosquito population and not mosquitoes which are known to transmit West Nile Virus. The Province of Manitoba is responsible for reporting on those trap counts.
The general locations and counts for the New Jersey Light traps will be available for viewing shortly on the Insect Control Branch Web site at winnipeg.ca/cms/bugline, and will be updated whenever new trap counts are available.
The Province of Manitoba is responsible for the monitoring of the West Nile Virus surveillance program as this is a public health issue. Accordingly, the Province of Manitoba is responsible for issuing any specific health orders to municipalities relative to the West Nile Virus.
Fogging operations will begin this evening (July 14th) at 10:00 p.m., weather permitting, in City parks and cemeteries, and in the following neighbourhoods: Charleswood, Tuxedo and West Kildonan. This release serves as the eight-hour advanced notification as to where fogging operations will occur tonight.
City-wide fogging will continue over the next seven (7) days in the following order:
- the Southeast quadrant of Winnipeg Boundaries: Dugald Road to the north, the City limits to the south and to the east, the Red River to the west.
- the Northwest quadrant – Boundaries: City limits to the north, the Assiniboine River to the south, the City limits to the west, the Red River to the east.
- the Northeast quadrant Boundaries: the City limits to the north and to the east, Dugald Road to the south, the Red River to the west.
- the remainder of the Southwest quadrant Boundaries: the Assiniboine River to the north, the City limits to the south and to the west, the Red River to the east.
The Insect Control Branch will continue its fogging operations, in conjunction with the aggressive larviciding and barrier treatment programs, until such time as the nuisance mosquito situation is under control.
The Branch will be issuing a Public Service Announcement on a daily basis, providing a minimum of eight (8) hours advanced notification as to where fogging operations will specifically be occurring on that given night, weather permitting.
All buffer zones will be respected. Crews will ensure that the insecticide sprayer is turned off 100 meters on each side of a registered property on the front street, side street and rear lane. Residents are reminded that, if they wish to have their primary residence excluded from the adulticiding program, they can register their objections in writing to the Insect Control Branch at 3 Grey Street, Winnipeg, MB, R2L 1V2. Please allow up to three (3) days for processing.
In addition, the Insect Control Branch has implemented automated email and telephone notification systems. Once registered, residents will receive daily phone or email notification during any and all fogging for adult mosquito control. To register for the automated email notification system, citizens can go to winnipeg.ca/wpgmail. To register for the automated telephone notification system, citizens can call the Bugline at 311.
The City of Winnipeg is anticipating that the Province of Manitoba will be making an announcement and issuing a Public Health Order to fog two specific communities, namely Elmwood/East Kildonan and the R.M. of West St. Paul, because of the identification of mosquito pools testing positive for West Nile Virus. This will mean that, in those communities that are specifically under a Public Health Order, buffer zones will no longer be in effect.
The City of Winnipegs adult nuisance mosquito fogging program will continue as planned, unless additional Public Health Orders are issued.
Last update: 14.07.2005
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