What's the Buzz? Signing off for the Summer!

August 22, 2008

This is it…the final stretch of my summer, including my summer job. Being the West Nile Virus Student at the Perth District Health Unit has been a fabulous experience, but unfortunately this will be my last blog as I am headed back to school next week.

This week I received some positive feedback about my mosquito trapping gear. When I trap I wear black rubber boots, blue splash pants, a beige jacket with a net hood that zips up around my neck to completely cover my head, and orange gardening gloves. I’ve been very curious as to what people think when they see me. As I was setting up a trap in Listowel a woman said that I looked like I was from outer space. I was very grateful for such an honest remark!

One of the best parts of this job has been the interaction I had with the public. If you are a student that likes a job with variety then you would definitely enjoy this position. It is outside and indoors, independent work and work with others, and there are so many different tasks that need to be done.

I’d like to leave you with some main messages to remember:

-If you find a dead cow or blue jay call the Health Unit.
-Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide so wear repellent with DEET to block their senses and protect from being bitten.
-The Health Unit covers a broad range of areas- make sure to check out the website if you have questions about something health related. There’s a good chance you will find information you are looking for.
-Rabies is present in Perth County – usually one of the signs that a wild animal has rabies is that it acts strangely and may approach you.
-Mosquito larva breed in standing water, so clean up bird baths, old tires, containers and anything else that holds water where mosquitoes can multiply!

As of now in Ontario, 30 birds have tested positive for WNV and 9 mosquito pools have also tested positive. So it’s out there and it may just be a matter of time before we see it in Perth County.

Before I sign off one final time I’d like to thank my dedicated readers – I hope you’ve learned a lot and enjoyed reading. I’d also like to thank those people at the Health Unit who have been my inspiration and who have helped me to launch this blog. Have a mosquito-free fall and remember – Clean Up and Cover up!!

Joanna MacDonald