By SooToday.com Staff
SooToday.com
Tuesday, September 11, 2007

NEWS RELEASE

ALGOMA PUBLIC HEALTH

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First case of West Nile virus

A crow picked up by Algoma Public Health in Sault Ste. Marie and submitted on September 6, 2007 has tested positive for West Nile virus.

This is the first confirmed positive bird in 2007 in the Algoma district.

A total of 14 birds have been submitted for testing.

In previous years by this time in the season, five to nine birds were positive out of the average 30 birds submitted each year.

This is consistent with a noted decrease in all West Nile Virus activity across the province by public health units this year.

“Last year by this time, we had positive birds, positive mosquitoes and a human case of West Nile Virus,” says Kara Flannigan, Public Health Inspector at Algoma Public Health.

“It is hard to specifically pinpoint what has contributed to such low activity. It could be a combination of things, such as the dry summer, cool nights, and possibly the treatment of the mosquito larvae in the vaults. It could also be the positive actions of the public, like dumping standing water on their property and taking precautions against mosquito bites. We encourage people to continue to protect themselves because West Nile Virus is here to stay.”

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