Public health using motor scooters to apply mosquito larvicide in the region

Throughout the summer, about 57,000 catch basins in the region are monitored to squash the number of pesky mosquitoes flying around.

Waterloo Region Public Health contracts staff from Pestalto Environmental Health Services to apply mosquito larvicide. The company uses motor scooters to do this, some of which have been posted on social media recently.

“As they’re driving around, they actually monitor the catch basins; they actually place a coloured dot on the catch basins to indicate different rounds of treatment,” Gabriel Moussa, public health inspector team lead, told 570 NewsRadio.

From June 1 to Aug. 31, catch basins are monitored through the region as part of the West Nile Virus Prevention Program.

They use a multi-layered approach to help maintain local mosquito populations including adult mosquito trapping, which Moussa said is when they would have detected West Nile Virus.

The Region of Waterloo confirmed Monday that one pool of mosquitos had tested positive for West Nile Virus in Waterloo. It is the first time the virus has been found locally this year.

“To reduce mosquito populations, we encourage residents to remove standing water on their property, check places like flowerpots, bird baths, wheelbarrows, eavesdrops and rain barrels,” said Moussa.

To reduce the chance of being bitten, Moussa said people should have screens on windows, wear light coloured clothing, wear long sleeve pants and a hat, wear socks or close toed shoes, use insect repellent with DEET or Icaridin and avoid being outside at dusk or dawn when mosquitos are usually the most active.

Moussa added that staff have seen West Nile Virus in the region since 2002.