April 3, 2006

REPORT TO GENERAL COMMITTEE

SUBJECT: West Nile Virus 2005 Update and 2006 Action Plan

CONTACT/AUTHOR: Victoria McGrath, Manager, Environmental Leadership

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Town of Markham continue to support the Region of York, Health Services Department in their activities to control of the West Nile Virus in 2006, in promoting education and reducing, where appropriate, standing water on public property, as outlined within this report;

AND THAT the Town of Markham continue to work in partnership with the Region of York in 2006, to communicate and distribute information about the West Nile Virus and participate in the meetings of the West Nile Virus Municipal Operations Committee;

AND THAT the Town of Markham continue to provide current, factual information about the West Nile Virus and how the general public can protect themselves from exposure.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

York Region Health Services continues to lead control of WNV in 2006

The Region of York, Health Services Department, Public Health Branch will maintain the lead role in the control of the WNV and will actively promote protection and source reduction through education and outreach as outlined in their report to Regional Council, attached as Appendix 1. The Town of Markham can support the Region of York, Health Services Department in education, outreach and surveillance activities related to WNV within the community.

Promoting public education and outreach to the community on WNV control and what the public can do to protect themselves is the best approach to support the Region. By providing current and continuously updated information on the Town’s website, the community page in the local paper and distributing the flyers provided by the Region, the Town can work with the community to provide a message that reduces fear and promotes a preventative approach.

This report includes a summary of the WNV control program in Markham in 2005 and recommends continuing that role in 2006. Town staff will work co-operatively with the Region of York, Health Services Department to provide support and information to ensure a coordinated approach to preventing WNV. However, the use of larvicide and adulticide will reside with the Region of York, Health Services Department, and Public Health Branch.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Funding for this initiative has been incorporated into the 2006 Approved Operating Budget:

· One By-Law Enforcement Officer dedicated to enforcement of the Standing Water By-Law at a cost of up to $20,000 (including fringe benefits and overhead) annually, to be approved in the operating budget.

· One 150-day employee dedicated to surveillance activities, customer service, database production, communications and reduction of standing water on Town property at a cost of up to $25,000 (including fringe benefits and overhead);

· Up to $50,000 within the Operations WNV account # 700-507-5501 for a high-pressure flusher truck as an enhanced approach to reducing mosquito breeding in those areas of Markham without catchbasins; to erect bat boxes at appropriate Town-owned properties; additional windmill powered aerators, as warranted; and to pilot fathead minnows, as appropriate.

Stuart Taylor,

Director, Strategic Services Department

Jim Sales,

Commissioner

The West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause flu-like symptoms, and in rare instances, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain or membrane protecting the brain) in humans. The WNV is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. Wild birds are the main host for the virus. Dead crows and blue jays can be early indicators that the virus has reached the area because they are the most susceptible. It has also been discovered that WNV is fatal among squirrels. The chance of humans becoming seriously ill from WNV is very small. This is because most humans are able to overcome any infection from WNV by the normal response of their immune system.

Preliminary research shows that there is a correlation between ambient temperature and the level of WNV activity within the adult mosquito; in others words, the warmer the weather, the more infectious the mosquito population becomes. Therefore, a hot summer in 2005, unlike the cool summers of 2003 and 2004 could potentially result in a significant increase in the number of human cases of infection. Appendix 2 to this report shows the WNV 2004 statistics in York Region and the surrounding regions.

Under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, responsibility for Health Services falls to the Regional Municipality of York. The Region of York, Health Services Department, Public Health Branch leads health-related initiatives, including the West Nile Virus and has assumed responsibility for the major activities relating to the control of the West Nile Virus.

In March 2005, Markham Council approved a staff report outlining how Markham would support York Region’s Health Services Department activities to control the West Nile Virus during 2005 by:

· promoting education and reducing, where appropriate, standing water on public property;

· working in partnership with the Region of York to communicate and distribute information about the West Nile Virus;

· participating in the meetings of the West Nile Virus Operations Committee;

· linking the Town of Markham website to the Region of York Health Services Department;

· updating the Town of Markham Internet and Intranet sites, with current factual information about the West Nile Virus and how the general public can protect themselves from exposure; and,

· erecting bird and bat houses in appropriate locations to naturally reduce mosquito populations.

Council approved $95,000 in funding in 2005, to cover the cost of:

· $25,000 salary for one 150-day employee dedicated to surveillance activities, database production, communications and reduction of standing water on Town property, from April to September 2005;

· $20,000 salary for one By-Law Enforcement Officer dedicated to enforcement of the Standing Water By-Law, from April to September 2005; and,

· $50,000 for a high-pressure flusher truck to assist in reducing mosquito breeding in areas without catchbasins; bat boxes at appropriate locations on Town-owned properties; and, to pilot fathead minnows and windmill powered aerators in stormwater management ponds within Markham.

Signs were displayed on the flusher trucks when they were operating for Markham’s West Nile program. Windmill-powered aerators were installed in twelve stormwater retention ponds and monitored for their effectiveness and nineteen bat boxes were installed. Finally, a catch basin screening program was initiated by staff. The flusher truck, bat box, windmill and catch basin initiatives are all described in more detail in Appendix 2 to this report.

In this report, staff is seeking Council approval to continue the 2005 West Nile Virus Action Plan in 2006.

The following section briefly outlines the responsibilities and involvement of the provincial government, York Region and the Town of Markham in addressing the West Nile Virus:

Provincial Leadership

On March 22, 2003, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care released a seven-point action plan to combat WNV, including a public education campaign. The Ministry’s approach included:

Expanded laboratory services to keep testing in Ontario
Enhanced surveillance
Extensive public education campaign
Mosquito control activities
Establishing a new, early warning system
Conducting a pilot study to determine human exposure to WNV
Funding on-going research to discover the best way to fight the WNV

The Ministry also proposed ongoing research, community consultation and consultation with national and international stakeholders to enable the province to have the latest information on mosquito control techniques, surveillance methods and results, and successful education approaches. In addition, the Ministry of the Environment ensured consistency in the pesticide programs implemented by regional health units by coordinating application licenses within the province. Other provincial initiatives included a “Fight the Bite” prevention campaign, posters, media print ads and brochures distributed to Ontario residents.

York Region Health Services Department

Although there are several species of mosquito known to carry WNV, York Region Health Services Department primarily targeted the Culex species in its control program in 2005, as outlined in their report to Regional Council on March 2, 2006 (see Appendix 1). Culex is the most common species of pest mosquito in urban and suburban settings. This species typically lays eggs:

In tin cans, buckets, discarded tires and other artificial containers that hold stagnant water;
In untended bird baths, clogged rain gutters and plastic wading pools that hold stagnant water;
In storm drains and catchbasins in urban areas; and,
In septic seepage and other foul water sources above, or below ground level.

The Culex species lives in the suburban and urban environment where there are ready sources of standing, stagnant water. Catchbasins provide a perfect environment for the Culex mosquito species to breed.

The York Region Health Services Department recommends a multi-jurisdictional approach to dealing with the West Nile Virus. The nine municipalities within York Region are each responsible for the following:

Surveillance Activities

· Reporting dead birds found on municipal property to York Region Health Services

· Directing calls regarding dead birds to Health Connection

· Assisting Health Services in identifying mosquito breeding sites (e.g. catchbasins)

Source Reduction

Maintaining an inventory of mosquito breeding sites
Working toward eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites on municipal property (e.g. improve drainage in ditches, catch basin maintenance)
Enforcing Standing Water By-Law
Initiating enforcement of municipal by-laws (e.g. Property Standards) and/or implementing strategies to eliminate mosquito breeding sites on municipal property

Communication/Education

Assisting in the distribution of communications developed by the Health Services Department, including providing current, factual information on the Markham web site
Educating municipal workers on risks of WNV, source reduction strategies and personal protection
Actively participating in the meetings of the WNV Control Committee, made up of the nine area municipalities in York Region

Update on York Region Activities

Staff at the York Region Health Services Department provided an update on the 2005 WNV Control Activities to Regional Council on March 2, 2006 (see Appendix 1). Within that report, continued positive WNV results in the bird, mosquito and human population throughout Ontario indicate that the virus is well-established within the province. Since WNV is still considered a newly emerging virus with significant health implications, the Region proposes to continue their surveillance program, educating the public and using mosquito control to limit the spread of the virus in York Region.

The Region’s March 2, 2006, report outlined the steps that had been taken to control WNV in York Region in 2005, which included using pesticides to kill mosquitoes at the larval stage in all roadside catchbasins within the Region of York as well as in ditches and other standing water. These pesticides included:

Methoprene

Methoprene is used as a larvicide because it artificially stunts the insects’ development, making it impossible for larval insects to mature to the adult stages, and thereby, preventing them from multiplying. Methoprene lasts for thirty days in the environment it is deposited.

· Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis (BTI)

BTI is an invertebrate growth-inhibiting bacterium that is eaten by the mosquito larvae and causes them to die prior to achieving adulthood. Due to its dissipation rate of three or four days, the larvicide BTI was only applied to standing water if complaints were received and larvae was present.

In 2006, the Region will also be using a new larvicide, the MOE approved Bacillus sphaericus (B. sphaericus), a larvicide similar to Bti, for use in environmentally-sensitive areas (ESAs). The Town of Markham’s only provincially recognized ESA is Toogood Pond Wetland Complex.

In addition to larviciding, York Region continues to monitor the possible use of Malathion as an adulticide. The Medical Officer of Health, under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, may make a determination, based on local risk assessment about whether action, including the use of adulticides, is required to reduce the risk of WNV. The Medical Officer of Health indicated that the use of adulticides may be necessary if an outbreak of WNV occurred in humans. This did not occur and adulticiding was not undertaken in 2003, 2004 or 2005, within the Region.

2005 Review of WNV Control in Markham

The following actions were implemented in 2005 to control WNV in Markham and support of the York Region Health Services Department:

Supporting the Region of York Health Services

The Town of Markham supported the Region of York Health Services Department control the WNV by assisting with surveillance activities, including reporting dead birds found on municipal property; directing calls regarding dead birds to the York Region Health Services Department or, the Health Connection line; and assisting York Region Health Services in identifying mosquito breeding sites where action has been taken to reduce, or eliminate standing water (e.g. roadside ditches). In addition, the Town of Markham provided a link to the Region’s WNV program on the Markham web site.

Increasing Customer Service related to West Nile Virus control

The 150-day employee was responsible for the following coordination around public property:

§ Responding to customer requests for site investigation;

§ Improving awareness and education of staff and residents;

§ Maintaining a database of action requests;

§ Continuous surveillance of potential “hot spots”;

§ Liaising with the Region of York on the WNV Operations Committee, and;

§ Coordinating street flushing program or other control measures, which may include contacting the Region of York or their contractor.

Other efforts included:

· Monitoring Stormwater Management Ponds (SWMPs) for mosquito larvae on a bi-weekly basis, mapping SWMPs for the Region and issuing work orders if refuse and standing water was found. A total of 52 SWMPs were monitored with evidence of mosquito larvae in only 3 of them at some point over the summer. A database was maintained of members of the community who called the Town with concerns about mosquitoes breeding areas. Surveillance of these locations was provided over the spring and summer in an attempt to reduce, or eliminate, standing water, where appropriate. Approximately 74 calls were received with concerns related to standing water on public property. Each complaint generated an inspection and action based on the inspection that ranged from repairing the area to adding the location to the flusher truck’s list;

· Working towards eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites on municipal property by improving drainage in ditches and filling depressions where standing water may develop and working with railway companies to eliminate standing water on their lands;

§ Erecting new bat houses across the Town to reduce the mosquito population;

§ Implementing a catch basin screening program in Town Parks and private residential back yard catch basins. This program involved designing a screening mechanism that would fit under the lids of standard catchbasins and identifying the locations of catchbasins in Markham Parks for these installations. This initiative is further described in Appendix 2 to this report.

§ Installing windmill powered aerators in selected Stormwater Retention Ponds throughout Markham. The purpose of these windmills is to provide continuous aeration resulting in improved water quality and hopefully a less conducive environment for mosquito breeding. Monitoring of all ponds began in 2004. We will continue to monitor all the ponds, specifically those with aerators, in 2006 to get more conclusive evidence of their effectiveness. This program is further described in Appendix 2.

§ A flusher truck was contracted to flush road side ditches holding water. This initiative is an alternative to applying the larvacide BTI into our ditches. This program is further described in Appendix 2.

Public Education Information

Communications were developed to improve awareness and education of staff and residents including links on the Markham internet and intranet featuring regular updates, frequently asked questions and links to the Region and the Province. The two key objectives of the communication included, educating staff and residents on the importance of eliminating culex mosquito breeding grounds around standing water, including flushing water in pools, swales, birdbaths, old tires, flower pots and rain barrels every five to seven days, and ensuring the public understand the relatively low risk posed by the virus and how to mitigate the risk.

Standing Water By-law Enforcement

Markham enacted a Standing Water By-Law in May 2003 requiring that a yard shall be free of:

· Depressions capable of holding standing water for more than five days;

· Debris of any kind capable of holding standing water;

· Excavations on the property capable of holding standing water for more than five days; and,

· A swimming pool, hot tub, wading pool or artificial pond unless it is maintained in good repair and working condition.

In 2004 and 2005, the By-Law Enforcement & Licensing Division was allocated funding to hire a contract position to enforce the Standing Water By-law on private lands within the Town. A Provincial Offences Officer was hired to fill the position and the individual responded to calls from residents concerned about standing water and the health risk associated with the West Nile Virus.

The Officer also fielded numerous general inquiries from the public providing information and advice. The Officer responded to each of the property related calls by completing a site inspection, contacting the property owner/ tenant, and following up with the caller. Each case required the Officer to make several visits to the property; first to assess the situation, and then to make follow up visit to ensure that the matter was resolved. In 2005, the Officer frequently attended site visits with the Regional Health Inspector to ensure a coordinated approach and to provide better customer service.

Overall, results of the 2005 program were positive. As in 2003 and 2004, the Officer found the majority of property owners unaware of the health risk and were cooperative once they were advised of the necessary action. For 2006, By-Law Enforcement anticipates an equal number of calls and having to deal with similar numbers of unused pools where staff will have to proactively enforce the By-Law. Providing this service requires a dedicated resource. The division requests funding for a contract position at a cost of up to $20,000 to provide an annual program to support the Operations department and the Region’s ongoing West Nile Virus program.

WNV control program in Markham in 2006

Staff proposes that the 2005 WNV control program be carried on in 2006 and that staff:

· Erect bat and bird houses at appropriate locations on Town-owned facilities, to be coordinated by staff;

· Continue with the catchbasin screening program in our parks, municipal parking lots and residential rear yard catchbasins;

· Continue providing directional flushing by the flusher truck to ensure more substantial and thorough agitation of standing water, particularly in driveway culverts;

· Continue supporting the Region of York by attending WNV Operations meetings, providing information to the Region as required and assisting with communications, and;

· Continue to monitor the effectiveness of the aerating windmills installed in 2004.

Appendix “1” - Region of York, Health and Emergency Services Committee Report dated March 2, 2006

Appendix “2” – Description of 2005 Town of Markham West Nile Virus Prevention Activities

APPENDIX “2”

Description of 2005 Town of Markham West Nile Virus Prevention Activities

Flusher Truck

The Region of York has identified that open standing water such as that found in many roadside ditches is an excellent breeding site for the Culex mosquitoes. In an effort to provide and enhanced approach to WNV control in Markham, a flusher truck was used to agitate the water found to be a concern in roadside ditches. The flusher truck uses a high pressure water flush to effectively disturb standing water in ditches during periods when there was no significant rainfall, thereby reducing the threat of mosquitoes breeding. In 2004, over 33 roads were flushed including roads in Thornhill, Unionville and Markham as well as all the rural roads.

The cost for the flusher truck in 2005 was $2,437.50. Staff believes that the flusher truck offers an effective alternative to the use of larvacide and should be continued into 2006.

Windmill Powered Aerators

Storm water management ponds provide an important water quality benefit and provide a diverse habitat supporting many species of wildlife including birds, frogs, fish and beneficial insects. These ponds also contribute to the life of the community by providing open spaces for relaxation and walking. Stagnant water can occur in stormwater management ponds if there is not sufficient rain or wind to disturb the water. Aerating windmills work year round to provide a continuous supply of oxygen to standing water. The aerators are installed at the bottom of the stormwater management ponds where air is released into the entire volume of the water. As oxygen supply is maintained, so is water quality, reducing the opportunity for mosquito larvae to survive. By increasing aeration, stagnant water is reduced and so is mosquito breeding. In 2004, windmill powered aerators were installed in twelve of the over 50 stormwater management ponds located in Markham. By installing these windmills in some of our ponds, staff can monitor the effectiveness of this practice in the control of West Nile virus and evaluate whether to expand this innovative program. Preliminary observations indicate that these windmills decrease the amount algae present in the ponds which is a primary food source for mosquito larvae. Further monitoring is planned for the summer of 2005. Additional aerators may be installed in 2006, as warranted.

Twelve wind-powered aerators were installed at the following stormwater management ponds in 2004. These windmills may be relocated to other ponds should staff identify ponds that have characteristics that may be better suited for this type of program through our continued observation of Markham’s stormwater management ponds.

Pond Name	Location	Ward
Pond Drive	Pond Drive and Southpark Road	2
Beaupre Park	Golden Avenue and Doubtfire Crescent	7
Townson	Behind plaza at 16^th Avenue and Woodbine Avenue	6
Apple Creek	Apple Creek Boulevard and Rodick Road	6
Ashton Meadows Park	East side of Woodbine north of 16^th Avenue	6
Angus Glen	East of Angus Glen Community Centre	6
Carleton	Carleton Road between Kennedy Road and McCowan Road	3
Roxbury	North east corner of Roxbury Street and 14^th Avenue	7
Raspberry Ridge	Mingay Avenue and Raspberry Ridge	4
Lemsford	South end of Lemsford Avenue	7
Swan Park	South end of Swan Park Road	4
Woodbine	South west corner of Woodbine and Hwy 7	6
Rougebank	Rougebank and Legacy	7

Bat Boxes

Mosquitoes are a source of food to the brown bat which is known to inhabit areas of Markham. In 2004, nineteen bat boxes were installed throughout Markham on Town properties to encourage these natural predators of mosquitoes to the area, effectively reducing the adult mosquito population.

Location	# of Houses	Area
Settlers Park	2	Thornhill
Pamona Valley Tennis Club	2	Thornhill
Beaupre Park	2	Milliken Mills
Too Good Pond Pavillion	2	Unionville
Operations Yard	1	Unionville
North end of TooGood Pond off Normandale	2	Unionville
Open space behind Mt. Joy C.C	4	Markham
Rougebank C.C	2	Markham
Milne Park	2	Markham

Staff monitored the bat boxes in 2005 to determine if any of the boxes were occupied. Typically they are occupied within a year to two years of installation and the bats are very effective in reducing the mosquito population. A single bat can catch hundreds of night flying insects in just one hour, consuming from 30 to 50 percent of its body weight in insects each night. On this basis staff are recommending additional bat boxes be installed on Town property where appropriate.

Catchbasin Screening Program

In 2004, the Region of York expanded their catchbasin larvaciding program to include catchbasins located in parks and the backyards of private residences. As an alternative to additional lavacide in our park catchbasins, staff designed a special screening device to be placed under the lid of the catchbasin. The purpose of this fine mesh screen is to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the stagnant water at the bottom of the catchbasin to lay their eggs. It also prevents any larvae that may be already developing in the catchbasin from leaving once they have developed into adult mosquitoes. This screen was also offered to residents who had back yard catchbasins and opted not to have them larvacided. In 2005, staff screened 315 catch basins in our parks, 179 catchbasins in municipal parking lots and 14 residential back yard catch basins. This program was successful and staff recommends that it be continued and possibly expanded in 2006.

2005 West Nile Virus Statistics

York Region

Location	Human Cases	Positive Birds	Positive Mosquito Pools
Aurora	0	5	0
East Gwillimbury	0	1	1
Georgina	0	1	1
King	0	1	0
Markham	1	5	0
Newmarket	0	2	0
Richmond Hill	0	2	0
Vaughan	4	4	11
Whitchurch-Stouffville	0	1	1
York Region Total	5	22	14