Campaign Ads Radio Ad Newspaper Ads www.HealthierCare.ca

West Nile Virus - The Facts

Preventing Infection

West Nile virus can only be transmitted to humans by an infected mosquito, so the key to prevention is avoiding mosquito bites.

The OMA has researched the issue of avoiding mosquito bites and supports the information provided by the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) West Nile website and Public Health Agency of Canada's West Nile website.

The chances of you becoming ill from a mosquito bite is very low, but to further reduce your chances of infection you can avoid mosquito bites by doing the following:

• Apply a proven mosquito repellent when you are outdoors. To be sure of the repellent's effectiveness, the OMA recommends using products that have been approved under the Pest Control Products Act. These usually display their registration number. As repellents come with some health warnings and age restrictions, it is always essential to read the label and abide by the instructions for use.
  
  See the CDC's Insect Repellent Use and Safety pages at CDC repellents information and CDC's Updated Information regarding Insect Repellents, or Health Canada's Safety Tips on Using Personal Insect Repellents
  
  
• When possible wear loose fitting, light-coloured clothing with long-sleeves and long pants and a hat. Clothes treated with repellents can add an extra degree of protection since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. If you spray your clothing, there is no need to spray the repellent on the skin under your clothing.
  
  
• Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening, which are peak mosquito biting times. Ensuring that window screens are free of holes and properly in place, and that doors are closed, will help keep mosquitoes outside.
  
  
• To reduce mosquito breeding opportunities eliminate standing water on your property. Be sure that flower pots, children's toys, tires and other items aren't collecting water.
  
  

West Nile Virus - Characteristics of the Disease

If you have concerns that you or a member of your family have been infected by West Nile virus, the only way to be sure is to consult a physician. That said, it is important to be mindful of the following information:

• All current evidence suggests that of the few people who are infected by a mosquito carrying West Nile virus, approximately 80% will show no signs of infection and feel no effects. Approximately 20% will develop mild flu-like symptoms and of those, fewer than 1% will develop a more serious form of the disease.
  
  
• From the time of being bitten by an infected mosquito to illness, there is an incubation period ranging from two to fifteen days, during which there are no symptoms. This is followed by the onset of flu-like symptoms in those who become sick. Those who get seriously ill tend to do so in a very short period of time after the onset of flu-like symptoms.
  
  
• For those who may be concerned about a mosquito bite that occurred more than 20 days ago, if you are not ill now, you can rest easy. If you were infected, no matter whether you became sick or not, all current evidence indicates that you will now be immune to the disease.

West Nile Virus - Protecting the Community

As the communities' doctor, the local Medical Officer of Health (MOH) is on the front lines and very well informed about local issues relating to managing West Nile virus risks. The OMA is confident that local MOHs are best positioned to act on this issue with the public's best health interests in mind.

There are many concerns about mosquito control strategies to reduce the risk of infection and protect public health. When weighing environmental and public health concerns against public health benefits, some form of targeted mosquito control activity may be appropriate.

Mosquito control activities include:

• reducing or eliminating mosquito breeding habitat (which starts with eliminating still and stagnant water on your property);
  
  
• the selective use of bacterial or chemical agents to control mosquito larvae;
  
  
• the application of pesticides to control adult mosquitoes.
  

Decisions on appropriate measures involve an assessment of both risk and efficacy. Following an assessment of local risks, municipalities may have implemented some form of mosquito control measures this year.

The wide-spread application (fogging) of the chemical Malathion is a temporary measure, so repeated foggings are likely if this course is taken. This can expose large segments of the population to a toxic pesticide and is not an action that decision makers take lightly. A careful examination is required of local circumstances and the relative merit of repeated pesticide exposure against the risk presented by the West Nile virus at the time.

The OMA will continue to monitor West Nile developments across the province and support physician efforts on behalf of their patients.