While the province is keeping a close on the prevalence of West Nile virus after a mosquito was found carrying the disease, the situation's not impacting the city of Portage's fogging plans. Parks Manager Dave Green says despite the discovery increasing number of Culex Tarsalis mosquitoes --the type that carries the disease-- they need to see an overall higher number of mosquitoes before they send their crews out to take care of the mosquitoes. 

Dave Green

"We know that the positive samples are going to come. It's a given fact now, but basically due to our licensing requirements we have to on the number of mosquitoes we get and weather conditions and that."

Green says they don't anticipate conducting any fogging work over the next week or so, given the wet conditions and moderate mosquito counts. He notes they also have access to more accurate data, now that the city has installed four mosquito traps throughout the city, a major change from the former landing counts that saw parks staff stand outside and count the mosquitoes that physically landed on them.

Green notes the wet weather means there's no shortage of standing water around the city. However, he says other aspects of the weather, combined with their major mosquito control work has really helped to keep the populations under control.

"The biggest factor is that we have a lot more standing water than normal, but with that being said we've been constant in our larviciding program. We have a contractor larviciding weekly in the wet areas, so that's helping to keep things under control. Also, the way the weather has been with the ups and downs and the cool nights, it has kind of been keeping the populations in check."

While the city can't fog for nuisance mosquitoes unless they start seeing higher numbers in their traps, the work can be provincially mandated. When the province feels there's a significant threat of West Nile, they can mandate municipalities to conduct fogging, with that work even going beyond requested buffer zones.