Wednesday, May 5, 2010 Orono Weekly Times - 13 The Regional Municipality Of Durham Health Department begins 2010 West Nile virus surveillance activities Effective immediately, Durham Region Health Department will begin surveillance activities for the 2010 West Nile virus (WNV) season. As the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) discontinued its dead bird surveillance program in 2009, the Health Department no longer collects and submits birds for WNV testing. However, the Health Department will continue to use other indicators such as adult and larval mosquito surveillance to determine the risk of West Nile virus for area residents. "In previous years, the Ministry's dead bird surveillance program was used to determine if West Nile virus was present in the community," explained Laura Freeland, Manager, Environmental Health with Durham Region Health Department. "As the virus has been detected in Ontario since 2001, we operate on the principle that it will be present every year. Therefore, the province's dead bird surveillance program is no longer in effect, but other surveillance activities such as adult and larval mosquito surveillance, are now used to help track the presence of West Nile virus in the community." WNV is a mosquito-borne disease that is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on the blood of a bird that carries the virus. The disease is not passed from person to person or from bird to person. Since 2001, West Nile virus has been found in birds, mosquitoes, horses and humans in Ontario. In 2009, the MOHLTC reported three confirmed human cases of the virus in Ontario. In Durham Region, no confirmed human cases of the virus were reported for 2009 and no positive mosquito pools were identified for West Nile virus. To help reduce the number of mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water around your home, residents are encouraged to: " Remove standing water from around your home where mosquitoes could lay their eggs. · Empty and clean bird baths weekly. · Chlorinate rain barrels or cover them with mosquito screening. · Remove all tires on your property. · Dispose of any water containers in your yard such as tin cans, ceramic pots, wading pools, planters, etc. · Check that roof gutters are clear and drain properly. · Make sure drainage ditches are not clogged. · Clean and chlorinate swimming pools and outdoor hot tubs. WEST NILE see page 14 Classified Business Directory LARRY JACKSON Debra Inglis Interior Design PLUMBING & WATER CONDITIONING Automotive Specialties BRIAN COUVIER Licenced Technician 117 Mill St. Orono L0B 1M0 "Look to us for all your general repairs to most make & models" Rims · Tires · Brakes · Tune-Ups Custom Exhaust Systems Castrol Engine Oil & Filter Service Specials Car & Truck Accessories Professional Installation Custom Drapery "Energy Saving Specials" Dealer & Fine Finishes by T. Osmond LDR CONTRACTING * Snow Removal * * Bobcat & Minihoe Service * Dump Trailer Service * * Tree Planting & Stump Removal * · Backhoe Work/Trenching · Pump Repairs & Installation · UV Lights · Water Softeners · Free Estimates For Friendly, Expert Service 905-9 9 83-9 9 919 Furniture Repair and Restoration Caning · Veneering · Carving French Polishes & Wicker Repair COMPLETE Luke or Lindsay Porter H. 905-983-9924 C. 905-914-6979 905-983-6214 905-9 983-5 5900 www.inglisdesign.ca 4312 Conc. #6, Kendal Experience You Can Trust 905-786-2477 I&T Carpenters · Licensed · 27 Years Experience · Custom Homes · General Contracting · Additions · House Trim · Stairs · Decks ·Windows ·Doors · Barns And all carpentry related work. Orono Veterinary Hospital Complete Residential Renovations, Additions and New Structures Windows · Soffit · Interlocking Waterproofing · Doors · Roofing Ceramic Tile · Siding Eavestroughing · Chimney Repair ~ Specializing in Stone Facing ~ Dr. Derrek de Haan Dr. Mathew Stephenson 30 Cobbledick St., Orono L0B 1M0 Tel: 905-983-9010 Fax: 905-983-5308 · ADDITIONS · RENOVATIONS · DECKS DOOR & WINDOW REPLACEMENTS · EXTERIORS · CABINETRY Authorized Consumers Gas Dealer Independent Lennox Dealer Furnaces · Air Conditioners and Appliances Heating · Electrical Air Conditioning ROBERT E. JACKSON "We're here to serve you" DAN ZEGERS 905-983-9543 6221 Main Street, Orono 983-6 TYLER SMITH sales representative "KRACO" CARPENTRY & CONTRACTING Since 1976 · Custom Built Homes · Renovations/Additions · Designing 905·697·1900 IVAN JONES TONY FANARA www.kendalhills.ca 905-983-5465 FREE ESTIMATES Call Mike Bonneau 6495 Leskard Rd., Orono L0B 1M0 Newcastle 905-987-5819 Hampton 905-263-9988 Mobile: 905-435-4181 Home: 905-983-9005 Orono Weekly Times 905-983-5301 * Residential * Farms * Rural Properties * Investment Rudy Kraayvanger www.homesmiths.ca 905-623-1101 www.kraco.ca