Protect Yourself and Your Family

From Spring to Fall look for any standing water. Mosquitoes only need a teaspoon of stagnant water to breed in.

Remove standing water from items such as flower pots, wheelbarrows, old tires, barrels, tin cans, bird baths, swimming pool covers, tarps and wading pools every two days. Check that holes, small depressions, roofs, catch basins, eaves and drains are not collecting stagnant water.

Install screens on your windows and doors and make sure they are secure and have no holes.

Wear light coloured long sleeves and pants when outdoors, especially around dusk and dawn when mosquitoes that can carry West Nile virus are most active. Use mosquito repellent containing DEET, PMD or lemon eucalyptus oil as directed on the bottle.

RDOS West Nile Prevention Program

The RDOS receives annual grants from the Province to undertake West Nile virus prevention programs throughout the Regional District.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen West Nile virus Protection Program and regular Mosquito Control Program started in April and will continue until late August. Property owners have been contacted for permission to access and treat sites on foot and by helicopter. Helicopter applications allow the programs to effectively and efficiently treat large sites and sites that are difficult to access on foot.

The Mosquito Control Crew tests standing water for the presence of mosquito larvae. If the site requires treatment, a granular, biological Bti pesticide is applied to the water. Bti targets mosquito and biting black fly larvae. It affects midges to a lesser degree. The application of this pesticide does not adversely affect fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, or other insects. Applications occur throughout the summer.

 

Information above supplied by RDOS