Latest news
- September 12, 2024 - Local human case of eastern equine encephalitis virus is confirmed
- August 21, 2024 - Ottawa Public Health encourages residents to protect themselves from mosquitoes as eastern equine encephalitis virus is confirmed in a local horse
- July 19, 2024 - West Nile Virus Confirmed in Ottawa Area Mosquitoes and First Ottawa Human Case of 2024
Eliminate standing water sites around your home
West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV) are infections spread by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes need water to breed. Help eliminate mosquitoes around your property by reducing or eliminating areas or objects that can accumulate or retain water.
Here are some suggestions:
- Look around/outside your house for containers, receptacles and any other items that might collect water. Be sure to empty them regularly, turn them over when appropriate, or dispose of them accordingly.
- Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outdoors so that water can drain out.
- Clean clogged roof gutters; remove leaves and debris that may prevent drainage of rainwater.
- Ensure all openings to rain barrels are covered with screen mesh at all times.
- Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
- Change the water in birdbaths at least once per week; aerate private ornamental ponds or treat them with an approved mosquito larvicide such as Bti if they do not have an outflow into natural waters.
- Keep swimming pools clean and properly chlorinated; remove standing water from pool covers.
- Use landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property.
For more information:
- Ottawa Public Health West Nile virus [pdf - 1 MB] also available in:
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Read: Grandpa’s Wisdom – An Algonquin Reflection on West Nile virus and Lyme disease* - in English, Algonquin, and French (pdf 11 MB)
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*To purchase copies of this story please contact the author, Mr. Albert Dumont at turtlemoons13@yahoo.com (www.albertdumont.com).
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