(James Gathany/CDC via AP, File)

By Derek Craddock

MOSQUITO SEASON

Sask. still at low risk for West Nile Virus, but could that change?

Jul 24, 2023 | 1:00 PM

Nothing says summer like a trip to the lake or a hike in the woods for many Saskatchewan residents, but it also brings hundreds of pesky, buzzy critters.

Mosquitoes are alive and strong in the province this season and along with it, the threat of diseases like the West Nile Virus.

Earlier this month, scientists in Alberta raised the alarm after discovering that mosquitos carrying that virus, known as Culex pipiens, were spotted in some parts of that province.

Saskatchewan, though, appears to be out of the woods, for now.

“Right now, we do not have, as of the most recent data that anyone has promised, they are not here,” Sean Prager, an associate professor at the department of plant sciences at the University of Saskatchewan said.

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Prager notes though that it’s not a matter of if these mosquitos could venture into Saskatchewan but when, noting the climate models and forecasts show favourable conditions for those mosquitoes.

“Precipitation and heat drive mosquitoes,” he said, adding that so far this season numbers have been up and down when it comes to mosquitos in general.

“Early in the spring and when it was raining a lot we were finding, generally speaking, more mosquitoes than average, but that has very much tailed off and now we’re depending on the particular locations either at average or even below for at least for those species that are typically monitored,” he said.

According to the Ministry of Health, north central and northern Saskatchewan are at minimal risk for West Nile Virus while the rest of the province is at low risk.

(Saskatchewan Ministry of Health)

As of July 15, the province has no lab-confirmed reports of West Nile Virus.

Prager and health officials continue to stress the importance of protecting yourself from mosquito bites this season, which involves long sleeve clothing and bug repellant.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com