The RM of Tache, which includes the community of Lorette, has been affected by a cut back in larviciding efforts by the City of Winnipeg.

Richard Baydack is the Director of the Communicable Disease Control Branch of Manitoba Health. Baydack says the West Nile Virus first arrived in Manitoba in 2002 and in 2003 the cost-shared program was launched to mitigate the spread of the virus and the reproduction of the Culex tarsalis mosquitoes.

He notes the West Nile Virus program changed its funding model and these changes are reflected in the areas which have reduced or increased larviciding service.

Mosquito Trap"Specifically, we're now much more able to describe how risk varies across southern Manitoba. We also have much more information about the effectiveness of larviciding in small communities, and finally, the overall capacity for larviciding in the province is much greater than it was. So, the program reflects these changes by providing more funding to communities in high risk compared to lower risk zones."

Baydack says the risk for West Nile Virus can vary quite a bit from year-to-year and research has shown the effectiveness of larviciding in smaller communities can be low.

"So, we actually believe that the changes to the program are improvements because it focuses the resources we have in areas that need them most. What I've learned is that you can have a treatment area in that community but the surrounding area is all untreated, so mosquitoes from that surrounding area can very quickly fly into that treated area which reduces the effectiveness of larviciding in the small communities."

He notes with the previous model it was possible some communities in low-risk zones were getting more funding than those communities in high-risk zones, something which has changed with the new model which he says focuses on the high-risk areas.

Baydack adds the program runs from around the end of June to the beginning of August.

Dawson Trail MLA Bob Lagasse says from the information he's been provided, the larvicide program is based upon new research which refocuses the serviced communities to centralized areas that are considered hot spots for West Nile Virus.

Lagasse adds as a Member of the Legislature he will continue to support the RM's in whatever way he can.

Baydack says individual people can also take action to prevent mosquito bites and reduce the chance of being infected with the West Nile Virus.

"Things like using insect repellent when they go outside, especially at peak times. Long sleeves and long pants when there's time of peak mosquito activity. Checking screens and so on to make sure there aren't any holes."

He adds also reducing standing water on properties helps in reducing increased mosquito populations.