What's New
COMING EVENTS AND BULLETINS
COMING EVENTS AND BULLETINS
Posted: November 6, 2010
Go to 'Home' page to see the Lake Stewards actions with regard to the improvement and enlargement of the Port Perry Sewage Lagoons.
Also note the date and time of our up-coming Annual General Meeting.
West Nile Virus Update
The occurrence of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Canada was much reduced last year with only 8 cases in all of Canada and only one suspected case in Ajax, Ontario. Dead bird surveillance in Ontario turned up on 6 positive birds for the virus. (See the Durham Region Health Department's Environmental Health Plans for 2010 at right)
Therefore, Durham Region Health is suspending their dead bird surveillance but will continue to monitor for adult and larval mosquitoes in urban areas and stormwater ponds. They will also continue to monitor reports of human and equine West Nile Virus infection and continue their public education programs and more.
There are many types of mosquitoes found in Scugog. Because we live in a wetland, there will be nuisance mosquitoes but many of those types of mosquitoes are not "vectors" or transmitters of WNV. The dominant vector mosquito is a type called Culex Pipiens. This is a mosquito that does not breed in wetlands. It is called a "house mosquito" for a reason as it prefers urban areas with sources of stagnant water such as storm water drainage systems, stopped up eaves troughs and small areas of standing water such as up-turned wheel barrows, old tires, pails and saucers around outdoor plants. They like these conditions because there is no competition for their eggs and larvae. See photo at right.
Wetlands support a wide number of other types of mosquitoes many of which do not even bite humans but which are an important food source for fish, birds, dragonflies, frogs, toads and more.
Lyme Disease now in Ontario
Durham Region Health will now be providing information on Lyme Disease as part of their investigation and reporting as cases have been found close to this region. With warmer winters, it is expected that this tick bourne disease will become more and more common.
After you, your children or your pets have been walking in tall grasses or shrubs in the country, check for ticks looking especially at any exposed area of skin, especially around your shirt collar and pantlegs. (You will probably not feel the bite or the tick until much later.) Before you try to remove a tick, which may or may not be infected with Lyme disease, please ensure that you know how to do it correctly by checking with your doctor, various websites or Durham Region Health. Improper removal may leave the critical mouth parts still within your skin and complicate treatment. Call your doctor to report your tick bite and ensure quick treatment should Lyme Disease be present.
Quick treatment with anti-biotics can stop this very dangerous disease.
See photos at right for how ticks are acquired, what they look like before they engorge themselves with blood, and what an untreated bite will often look like.