West Nile risk in Hamilton remains low but City is keeping an eye on mosquitoes

The City of Hamilton said it may soon have to apply larvacides to some areas throughout the city to protect against the threat of the potentially deadly West Nile Virus.

While Hamilton has yet to confirm a case of the virus in 2022, the city’s Public Health Services have been monitoring mosquito larvae (immature mosquitoes) on city-owned properties.

“When such monitoring indicates that there is a need for mosquito control, application of larvicide may be required in order to prevent larval development into vectors of West Nile Virus” a press release issued Tuesday (May 24) said.

West Nile Virus is mostly spread to humans mainly when a mosquito that has been infected by the virus bites them. In very few cases, the spread has been linked to blood transfusions, organ transplants, breastfeeding or in pregnancy from the mother to baby.

According to the City website, the risk of the virus in Hamilton remains low, which means that the virus has not been found in local mosquito populations yet.

If public health needs to act to control mosquito populations, the larvicide applications will take place as early as June 1, 2022, and finish up as late as Oct. 31 and will be carried out by licensed and trained technicians.

Private property owners concerned about the threat of the West Nile Virus can also take precautions to prevent the spread by removing standing water from things like bird baths, wading pools, old tires and unused containers around one’s property.

More information about the West Nile Virus and the City of Hamilton’s response to it can be found on the City’s website.