West Nile Virus
West Nile virus is a disease mainly spread to people through an infected mosquito's bite. Mosquitoes can become infected by feeding on the blood of birds that carry the virus. Not all mosquitoes carry West Nile virus. The virus does not spread from person to person.
We monitor and control West Nile virus (WNV) in Brantford and Brant County by:
- Monitor weekly for mosquitoes in storm sewer catch basins and storm water management ponds
- Monitor weekly for mosquitoes within neighbourhoods
- Treat catch basins and storm water management ponds with pesticides to reduce the number of mosquitoes
Standing Water
Within the City of Brantford there is a standing water bylaw to ensure that water does not accumulate and provide a place for mosquitoes to live. Standing water is when water sits still and is not moving or circulating for more than 48 hours or 2 days. This bylaw is in effect from May 1 to September 30 of each year. Public health inspectors enforce the standing water bylaw.
Examples of standing water are:
The bylaw does not apply to natural land forms like ponds and marshlands.
For the full bylaw see
Article 28 of Chapter 465 Property Standards bylaw
Report standing water complaints to us at 519-753-4937 ext. 444.
Tested for WNV
| 180 |
Found positive with WNV
| 1 |
Swimming Pools:
- Open your swimming pool by mid-June or the latest, and keep the water circulating and treated with adequate sanitizers such as chlorine or bromine products, even if it is not being used.
- Keep your pool cover drained of rainwater. You can purchase a small pump the water into a drain or your yard, or treat the water with a mosquito larvicide available to the public. This product is called AquaBac, and will be carried by various hardware stores.
- If you do not plan to open your pool, cover it with a solid covering such as plywood to prevent mosquitos from accessing the water in the pool.
- Turn over plastic wading pools when they're not being used.
Ornamental Garden Ponds:
- Always use a pump to continuously circulate the water.
- Stock your pond with fish, frogs, or water bugs that will feed on mosquito larva. You must use a pump along with the fish to keep the water moving.
- If you no longer wish to maintain the pond, fill it in or drain and cover it with a tight fitting tarp or solid material such as plywood.
Tires:
- Dispose of unwanted tires at the local landfill site.
- Cover old tires with a tarp to prevent water from pooling inside them.
- Drill holes in the bottom of the tires to allow rainwater to drain out.
Rain Barrels:
- Keep rain barrels covered with a small mesh screen to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs in the water.
- Empty rain barrels if the water is more than a week old.
Bird Baths:
- Change water every other day.
Eavestroughs:
- Clean the eavestroughs regularly to ensure the water flows through them and does not sit in the eavestrough.
- Make sure eavestroughs are installed on a slight angle, allowing the water to flow to the downspout.
Outdoor Containers:
- Cover any garbage, recycling or composting containers, to prevent water from accumulating in them.
- Store items upside down or drill holes in the bottom of containers that must be left outdoors like flower pots, gardening cans, and wheelbarrows.
- Use landscaping to eliminate water that collects in low areas on your property.
Mosquitoes can develop in any puddle that lasts more than 7-10 days during the summer.
Some birds, including crows and jays, may catch and die from West Nile virus. To report a bird who may have died from WNV, phone the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre at 1-866-673-4781.
