The City of Winnipeg says it will begin targeted mosquito fogging mandated by the province due to a high risk of West Nile Virus transmission. A release from the city Thursday said the province has issued a fogging order under the Environment Act. “The Act requires municipalities to fog when the risk of West Nile Virus transmission via Culex tarsalis mosquitoes is high,” the release reads. The province said so far there have been no human cases of West Nile Virus in Manitoba this year. However, the province said high temperatures have shortened the time the virus needs to develop. “Surveillance data from last week showed high numbers of adult Culex tarsalis mosquitoes and evidence of infection with West Nile virus,” the province said in a bulletin Thursday. It added the highest-risk period for human exposure is usually between July 15 and August 15 each year. The DeltaGuard fogging in Winnipeg will begin at 9:30 p.m. Friday. The city said, according to the provincial order, buffer zones will not be in effect. The city said the targeted Insect Management Areas include: The daily schedule of the fogging program can be found online. The province will also begin its adult mosquito control program in Carman, Stonewall, the RM of West St. Paul, and Winkler. More details about the provincial program can be found online.
