West Nile virus

West Nile virus (Government of Canada) is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes that normally causes only mild illness in humans. Severe complications, including meningitis and encephalitis, are also possible, particularly in people over 50 years of age, and among those who have weakened immune systems. The virus has been found in birds, mosquitoes, horses, and humans.

Symptoms of West Nile virus can range from mild to severe. Most people infected with the virus have no symptoms while some may experience mild symptoms including:

• body aches
• fever
• headache
• mild rash
• swollen lymph glands

In very rare cases the infection can affect the central nervous system and cause serious symptoms including:

• confusion
• difficulty swallowing
• high fever
• loss of consciousness
• muscle weakness
• nausea or vomiting
• paralysis
• severe headache
• stiff neck

Whether you are in your backyard, exploring local trails, or vacationing, it’s important to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites.

• Use an insect repellent to prevent insect bites.
• If possible, stay indoors from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear light-coloured clothing, including long sleeves, long pants, socks, and a hat whenever you are outdoors. Clothing should be made of tightly woven materials that keep mosquitoes away from the skin.
• The use of mesh “bug jackets” or “bug hats” is recommended.
• Check all window and door screens in your home to ensure that there are no tears or holes for mosquitoes to get through.

Mosquitoes need only a small amount of calm, standing water to lay their eggs and for larvae to hatch. Change or remove standing water at least once a week from areas that can hold water, including:

• barrels
• bird baths
• clogged drainage ditches
• clogged gutters and eaves troughs
• flat roofs
• flowerpot saucers
• old tires
• small containers like cans or bottle tops
• unused children’s toys or vehicles
• unused containers
• wading pools
• wheelbarrows

Ensure your property is maintained in a way that promotes adequate drainage and prevents standing water and the accumulation of decaying debris. Examples include:

• Ensuring your swimming pool pump is circulating and removing standing water from the pool cover.
• Carrying out regular yard and lawn maintenance. Lawn cuttings, raked leaves, or other decaying debris should be collected and recycled or mulched so that organic matter does not end up in storm sewers as a food source for mosquito larvae.
• Turning over compost frequently.
• Filling in low depression areas on your lawn.
• Trim dense shrubbery where mosquitoes like to rest.

No, Public Health does not collect or test birds for West Nile virus as the disease is known to be in Ontario. The testing of birds in the past was used to determine the presence of the disease in the area. Anyone with concerns about a dead bird can contact the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at 1.866.673.4781 or use their online reporting tool.

How to dispose of a dead bird:

1. Bird carcasses should be handled using a small shovel or large tongs, rather than by hand.
2. If the use of a small shovel or large tongs is not possible, heavy-duty, leak-proof rubber gloves—like the type used in household cleaning—should be worn, preferably over leather work gloves to avoid contact with skin or clothing.
3. If possible, bird carcasses should be buried several feet deep—un-bagged—where they will not be disturbed.
4. If burial is not possible, the carcass should be placed in a puncture-resistant, heavy-duty, leak-proof plastic bag of appropriate size, either by using an implement to deposit the bird in the bag, or by:

• inverting the bag over the hand;
• grasping the carcass through the bag;
• and wrapping the bag around the bird without touching it.

5. The bag should be sealed securely by a twist-tie, knotted string, or by knotting the bag tightly on itself. The bag should then be placed inside a second leak-proof plastic bag, which is similarly sealed. Care should be taken to ensure that the bird’s beak or claws do not puncture the bags. Double-bagged bird carcasses should be kept out of the reach of children and pets, and may be placed in garbage destined for a landfill site.
6. Do not dispose of bird carcasses in such a way that they could be handled again by someone or be accessible to any domestic animals.

Anyone handling bird carcasses should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water, lathering for at least 15 seconds, after the carcass is appropriately contained. If there is contact between the bird and clothing, wash your clothing as you would normally. Equipment can be cleaned using soap and water.