This following document is the West Nile Virus - Preparedness and Prevention Plan for Ontario – 2009, a technical reference document for Ontario’s 36 Health Units to assist with the implementation of the Control of West Nile Virus Regulation – O.R. 199/03), made under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. It is referred to in this document as ‘the Plan’. The material content in the ‘Plan’ incorporates the cumulative experience of public health with vector-borne diseases and their control across North America with relevance to Ontario’s topography, climate, and vector species, with particular emphasis on our ongoing communication with the public Health Units (HUs) of Ontario.

Under the Control of West Nile Virus Regulation, the local Medical Officer of Health (MOH) is required to conduct a risk assessment of the conditions pertaining to West Nile Virus (WNV) in the Health Unit. This risk assessment will identify the relative risk of human infection from WNV using surveillance information based upon dead birds, mosquito information, equine infections, along with any human cases, and may include a number of other relevant information. Completion of the risk assessment in accordance with the Regulation will offer guidance to the appropriate WNV control activities for the MOH, and if needed, provides a review of appropriate vector (mosquito) control activities (i.e. larval/adult mosquito control measures) and their effective application. The Regulation requires the local municipality to which the risk assessment applies to undertake those measures necessary for vector and disease control when directed to do so by the MOH.

In addition, under the Control of West Nile Virus Regulation, the MOH is also required to maintain a means to record, investigate, and report any confirmed or likely adverse or unintended human health effects attributed to mosquito control actions, and to report any non-human environmental adverse effects that he/she knows about to the Ministry of the Environment and/or other relevant local or provincial authorities.

The full document and appendices are available for download below :

Note that this plan is subject to change during the 2009 season.

FULL DOCUMENT – With appendices West Nile Virus Preparedness and Prevention Plan Ontario - 2009 53 pages | 360 kb | PDF format

MAIN DOCUMENT – Without appendices West Nile Virus Preparedness and Prevention Plan Ontario - 2009 35 pages | 205 kb | PDF format

Appendix I Health Unit Vector-Borne Diseases Annual Report Guideline 1 page | 18 kb | PDF format

Appendix II Mosquito Species to be Identified and Reported 1 page | 15 kb | PDF format

Appendix III Mosquito Species Proven Positive for WNV or EEE 1 page | 17 kb | PDF format

Appendix IV WNV Mosquito Species Viral Testing Order of Preference 1 page | 24 kb | PDF format

Appendix V Factors for Consideration for Adult Mosquito Control through Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) Application 1 page | 19 kb | PDF format

Appendix VI Summary Report: WNV Mosquito Control Malathion-Related Illness 2 pages | 47 kb | PDF format

Appendix VII Malathion TOX Q & A Circular 9 pages | 64 kb | PDF format

Appendix VIII WNV Malathion Application : Human Exposure and Adverse Effects Incident Report 3 pages | 36 kb | PDF format

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