Residents should be cautious as West Nile virus has been found in Peel Region, especially near Airport and Derry roads in Mississauga. This virus can cause mild sickness, but it can be more serious for people over 50 or with weak immune systems. To stay safe, avoid going outside at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active, use bug spray with DEET or icaridin, and wear long sleeves and pants.
Make sure to get rid of standing water around your home by emptying birdbaths, kiddie pools, and any containers that can hold water. By following these easy steps, we can help keep our community safe from the virus.
West Nile Response from Regional Health Unit
Public Health’s vector borne disease program continues to include surveillance, control and education activities.
The first round of larviciding for all catch basins in Peel began in early June and will continue until the end of September. In Ward 1, first round of treatment was completed by the end of June. The second treatment is currently underway and is expected to be completed within this week.
Larviciding of catch basins and standing water treatment is done to control mosquito populations by targeting mosquito larvae—immature mosquitoes that live in water. This process involves applying environmentally friendly biological larvicides, typically in granular form, to disrupt the larvae’s development. In Peel, larviciding is carried out every 21 days during the summer months. Treatments are applied to all municipal catch basins, as well as selected municipal sites and public parks.
To indicate treatment, applicators mark each catch basin with a coloured dot:
Blue dot: First treatment
Green dot: Second treatment
Orange dot: Third treatment (to be applied 21 days after the second treatment)
Residents can also request free larvicide treatment for catch basins on their private property, such as those in backyards. More details as well as the request form can be found at: peelregion.ca – Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Bed Bugs.
We also strongly encourage people to monitor standing water on their property to prevent mosquito breeding.
Our Public Health team also works to identify and monitor standing water sites (i.e., storm water management ponds) that are productive mosquito breeding sites. If mosquito larva are found in standing water the sites they are referred for treatment.