West Nile Virus

The Ontario government’s action plan to combat West Nile virus emphasizes that avoiding mosquito bites is the best way to battle the virus. People can take precautions to avoid mosquito bites by covering up and removing stagnant water around their property. Many municipalities are preparing to carry out activities to control mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus as part of their mandate to protect public health. Public health units will make the decision on what mosquito control activities will be carried out.

Health Canada has registered a number of pesticides used to control mosquitoes. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment for its part regulates the sale, use, transportation, storage and disposal of federally registered pesticides in Ontario under the Pesticides Act and Ontario Regulation 63/09.

Resources Fact Sheets 4423e01 Municipal Adulticiding To Prevent The Spread Of West Nile Virus - March 2009 5608e Key Facts About Applying Larvicides to Catch Basins and Stagnant Water Located on Private Property - May 2008 5609e Mosquito Control Around the Home to Prevent the Spread of West Nile Virus - May 2008 5610e01 Preventing the Spread of West Nile Virus - March 2009 Related Documents Summary Report of Activities to Manage West Nile Virus 2006 Summary Report of Activities to Manage West Nile Virus 2005 Public Notification of a Land Extermination for the Control of Adult Mosquitoes by Ultra Low Volume Equipment for West Nile Virus - May 2008 Best Practices for Reducing the Risk of West Nile Virus in Stormwater Management Ponds - March 2008 Best Practices for the Application of Malathion by Ultra Low Volume Equipment for Control of Adult Mosquitoes in West Nile Virus Control Programs - March 2009 Applicant Guides 6191e01 Permit Applicant Guide for Municipalities and Health Units: Controlling Mosquito Larvae for Prevention and/or Control of West Nile Virus   6192e01 Permit Applicant Guide for Private Land: Controlling Mosquito Larvae for Prevention and/or Control of West Nile Virus   Application Forms Please visit the Central Forms Repository Pesticides Management Section for all necessary forms.

Other links

Information on West Nile virus is available on the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Web site at www.health.gov.on.ca or by calling the toll-free hot line at 1-877-234-4343.

If you are having difficulty accessing a document, please contact the Ministry of the Environment at picemail@ene.gov.on.ca or phone the ministry's Public Information Centre at 1- 800-565-4923, in Toronto 416-325-4000 or by mail to the Ministry of the Environment, Public Information Centre, 135 St. Clair Ave. West, 1st Floor, Toronto, ON. M4V 1P5.

To view/print PDF documents, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader. Adobe Acrobat Reader is free and can be downloaded from the Adobe web site. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader.