The province has ordered mosquito fogging in Winnipeg and Altona over concerns about the West Nile virus.
The government said in a news release Thursday that there are high numbers of the insects in the area and evidence of mosquitoes infected with the virus. No locally acquired human cases of the virus have been confirmed in Manitoba this year, but the risk for potential exposure is high.
The fogging is set to begin Friday night, weather permitting. Crews will be using DeltaGard 20EW, which is classified as a reduced-risk pesticide.
One area that will be fogged in Winnipeg also affects the Rural Municipality of Macdonald. The boundaries are Wilkes Avenue in the north; Waverley Street in the east; Abinojii Mikanah, Bison Drive and Kenaston Boulevard in the southeast; La Verendrye Road 54 Northeast in the south; and Road 8 East in the west.
The other area of Winnipeg that will be fogged includes part of the RM of West St. Paul. The boundaries are Grassmere Road in the north (with an extension along Highway 8 to three kilometres north of the Perimeter Highway), Main Street in the east, Balgona Road and Murray Avenue in the south, and Pipeline Road in the west.
An extended area of about three kilometres around Altona, in the RM of Rhineland, will also be fogged.
The City of Winnipeg suspended its own fogging program after the night of July 20 and said it would review trap counts and resume fogging if necessary.
fpcity@freepress.mb.ca