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The Buzz of Summer

Wednesday, 21 June 2017 at 06:26

Local health units are preaching summer safety to protect yourself and your family from West Nile Virus.

Today marks the first day of summer and although many people are celebrating the balmy weather, local health units warn humans aren't the only ones flocking outside.

Mosquitoes can carry the West Nile Virus and over the last several years mosquitoes carrying WNV have been found in Perth and Oxford Counties. Public Health Inspector at the Perth District Health Unit Stephanie Carlyle offers up a few tips to protect yourself from mosquitoes. 

"So our first key message is to cover up, so that means wearing long sleeved clothes, long pants to minimize your skin exposure - you can also wear light coloured clothing to help reduce your risks of being bit." 

Carlyle adds they haven't started testing for West Nile Virus yet. 

"We had 3 positive mosquito pools come back in 2016 and again, we haven't started our mosquito trapping or testing yet for 2017."

The Health Unit also recommends that people protect themselves from mosquito bites by:

- Using insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin on clothing and exposed skin. Icaridin is a similar product to DEET and was registered in 2012 by Health Canada as a safe and effective insect repellent. Always read and follow label directions.

- Taking extra protection measures at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. 

- People can stop mosquitoes from breeding by getting rid of standing water around their home, farm, and workplace at least once a week. 

- Adult mosquitoes also like to rest in dense shrubbery. Keep bushes and shrubs clear of overgrowth and debris, and keep compost piles turned on a regular basis.

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