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TO: |
Mayor and Members of Council |
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FROM: |
Stuart Taylor,
Director, Strategic Services |
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PREPARED BY: |
Mavis Urquhart,
Manager Environmental Leadership |
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DATE OF MEETING: |
2005-Mar-21 |
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SUBJECT: |
West Nile Virus 2004 Update and 2005 Action Plan |
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RECOMMENDATION:
THAT
the staff report titled “West Nile Virus 2004
Update and 2005 Action Plan”, dated March 21, 2005, be received;
AND 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 2005, in promoting education and reducing, where appropriate,
standing water on public property;
AND THAT the Town of
AND THAT staff be authorized to continue
working with the Region of York Health Services Department by participating in the
meetings of the West Nile Virus Control Committee;
AND THAT the Town of
AND THAT the Town of
AND THAT staff erect 20 additional bat houses on Town
lands in appropriate locations in an effort to naturally reduce mosquito
populations;
AND FURTHER THAT, Council approve funding in the amount of $95,000 to cover the cost of:
·
One
150-day employee dedicated to surveillance activities, database production,
communications and reduction of standing water on Town property, from April to
October 2005, at a cost of up to $25,000 (including fringe benefits and
overhead);
·
One 150-day By-Law Enforcement Officer dedicated to enforcement of the
Standing Water By-Law, from April to September 2005, at a cost of up to $20,000
(including fringe benefits and overhead).
·
Up to $50,000 for: a high-pressure flusher truck as an enhanced approach
to reducing mosquito breeding in those areas without catch basins; installation
of bat boxes at appropriate Town-owned properties; additional windmill powered
aerators, as warranted; establish a pilot project introducing fathead minnows
in storm water management ponds; and, continuation of the catch basin screening
initiative.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to outline how Town
staff provided support to York Region Health Services Department in their
activities to control the West Nile Virus in 2004 and to set out a program for
continued support in 2005.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
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 can be an indicator 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 B 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
In April 2004, Markham Council approved a staff
report outlining how
·
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
Control Committee;
·
linking
the Town of
·
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 2004, 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 2004;
·
$20,000 salary for one 150-day By-Law Enforcement Officer dedicated to
enforcement of the Standing Water By-Law, from April to September 2004; 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
Staff were directed to seek
reimbursement from the Region of York for the cost of the high-pressure flusher
truck and it was requested that the
In this report, staff
is seeking Council approval to continue the 2004 West Nile Virus Action Plan in
2005.
DISCUSSION
The following section briefly outlines the
responsibilities and involvement of the provincial government, York Region and
the Town of
On
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
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 2004. Culex is the most common species of pest mosquito in urban and
suburban settings. This species typically lays eggs:
It is important to understand the habitat of this
species because it increases the public’s understanding that the spread of WNV
is contained mostly within the urban environment. 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 species that live in natural
areas, such as ravines, wetlands, woodlands and floodplains are plentiful but
not typically of the Culex species and, therefore, need not be
considered a threat.
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 addition to larviciding, York Region held
public information sessions related to 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, or 2004 within the Region.
York Region Council received and adopted a
report dated February 2005 from the Commissioner of Health Services
recommending
2004 Review of WNV Control in
The following actions were implemented in 2004 to control WNV in
2. Increasing
Customer Service related to
The
150-day employee was responsible for the following coordination around public
property:
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 49 SWMPs were monitored with
evidence of mosquito larvae in 12 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 108 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
19 new bat houses across the Town to reduce the mosquito population;
§
Implementing
a catch basin screening program in
§
Installing
windmill powered aerators in selected Stormwater Retention Ponds throughout
§
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 A.
Communications
were developed to improve awareness and education of staff and residents
including links on the
·
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, the By-Law
Enforcement & Licensing Division was allocated funding to hire a 150-day
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 over 100 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.
Overall, results of the 2004
program were positive. As in 2003, 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 2005, 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
150-day contract position at a cost of up to $20,000 to provide a program this
year.
WNV control program in
Staff proposes that the 2004 WNV control program be carried on in 2005 and
that staff:
·
Erect
additional bat houses at appropriate locations on Town-owned facilities, to be
coordinated by staff;
·
Introduce
fathead minnows into SWMPs that were known to have mosquito larvae, and
monitoring the effectiveness of the minnows. Fathead minnows are natural
mosquito predators and are being promoted by the Ministry of Natural Resources.
While staff was to proceed with this program in 2004 a supply of these licenses
and minnows were difficult to obtain and staff are proposing that the program
be undertaken in 2005;
·
Continue
providing directional flushing by the flusher truck to ensure more substantial
and thorough agitation of standing water, particularly in driveway culverts;
and,
· Continue to monitor the effectiveness of the 12 windmills installed in 2004.
CONCLUSION
The Region of
Promoting public education and outreach to
the community on WNV control and what the public can do to protect themselves
is the best first step towards supporting 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
FINANCIAL
CONSIDERATIONS:
The costs of the
recommendations in this report are estimated to be:
·
One
150-day employee dedicated to surveillance activities, database production,
communications and reduction of standing water on Town property at a cost of up
to $25,000 (including fringe benefits and overhead);
·
One 150-day 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);
·
Up to $50,000 be established for a high-pressure flusher truck as an
enhanced approach to reducing mosquito breeding in those areas of
Funding for these programs has been incorporated into
the 2005 Approved Operating Budget.
BUSINESS
UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:
The following departments may have responsibility for
some portion of the WNV control in the Town of
ATTACHMENTS:
Appendix “A’ – Outline of
Activities Undertaken in 2004
Appendix “B” – 2004
Appendix “C” – Region of
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Stuart Taylor, Director Strategic Services
Department |
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Jim Sales, Commissioner Community and Fire Services |
APPENDIX
“A”
Description
of 2004 Town of
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
The cost for the Flusher truck in 2004 was $11,225.37. Staff believes that the
flusher truck offers an effective alternative to the use of larvacide and
should be continued into 2005
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, 12 windmill powered aerators were
installed in 12 of the over 50 stormwater management ponds located in
The 12 Windmill powered
aerators that are currently installed at the following stormwater management
ponds cost $31,063.74 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
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Pond Name |
Location |
Ward |
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Pond Drive |
Pond Drive and |
2 |
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Golden Avenue and |
7 |
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Townson |
Behind plaza at |
6 |
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Apple Creek |
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6 |
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East side of Woodbine north
of |
6 |
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Carleton |
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3 |
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Roxbury |
North east corner of |
7 |
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Raspberry Ridge |
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4 |
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Lemsford |
South end of |
7 |
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South end of |
4 |
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Woodbine |
South west corner of
Woodbine and Hwy 7 |
6 |
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Rougebank |
Rougebank and Legacy |
7 |
Bat Boxes
Mosquitoes are a
source of food to the brown bat which is known to inhabit areas of
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Location |
# of Houses |
Area |
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2 |
Thornhill |
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2 |
Thornhill |
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2 |
Milliken Mills |
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Too Good Pond Pavillion |
2 |
Unionville |
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Operations Yard |
1 |
Unionville |
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North end of Too Good Pond
off of Normandale |
2 |
Unionville |
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Open space behind Mt. Joy
C.C |
4 |
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Rougebank C.C |
2 |
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2 |
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Staff will be monitoring in
2005 to determine if all of the boxes are occupied. Typically they are occupied
within a year 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 an additional 20
bat boxes be installed on Town property.
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 2004, staff screened 121 catch basins in
our parks and 14 residential back yard catch basins. This program was successful and staff recommends that it be continued and possibly expanded
in 2005.
APPENDIX
“B”
2004
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Location |
Human Cases |
Positive Birds |
Positive Mosquito Pools |
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0 |
1 |
0 |
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0 |
3 |
1 |
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0 |
1 |
0 |
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King |
0 |
1 |
0 |
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0 |
2 |
0 |
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0 |
1 |
0 |
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1 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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Whitchurch-Stouffville |
0 |
2 |
0 |
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1 |
11 |
1 |
Surrounding
Regions
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Location |
Human Cases |
Positive Mosquito Pools |
Positive Birds |
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1 |
1 |
11 |
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6 |
31 |
18 |
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Peel Region |
0 |
4 |
16 |
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Halton Region |
0 |
5 |
13 |
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0 |
2 |
8 |
