West Nile Update

 Nothing yet but, he expects that to change.

City Parks Gardener Glenn Chernick trapping Moose Jaw mosquitoes and having them tested for West Nile Virus.

"We haven't had any positive mosquitoes been found in Moose Jaw. We do not collect birds for sampling we haven’t in 2006 and that is based on a recommendation by Saskatchewan Health.

The city does have five traps to catch mosquitoes. All of the culix tarsalis mosquitoes tested have come back negative. However, Chernick expects to see positive tests by next month. He reminds us to remove standing water in our yards and to wear mosquito repellant.

"I believe it is just a matter of time. Usually we start getting in to August and then we start seeing the positive pools of West Nile mosquitoes so we are asking residents to check their eaves trough, check their rain barrels and make sure they are free of standing water, keep their grass cut fairly short and maybe give their hedges a spray with Raid or a pyrethrum based insecticide to keep mosquito numbers down."