Point Edward, ON – Lambton Public Health (LPH) is announcing that catch basin larviciding, designed to control mosquito larvae and reduce the incidence of West Nile virus (WNV) in Lambton County including Aamjiwnaang First Nation, is set to begin Monday, June 8.

Pestalto Environmental Health Services Inc. has been contracted by LPH to conduct larval surveillance and apply larvicide under the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks larviciding permit. Methoprene (Altosid) in pellet (Pest Control Products Act #21809) formulation will be placed in the catch basins.

Pestalto technicians wearing safety vests will apply larvicide by hand to roadside catch basins while on a motorized scooter that has a “Slow-Moving Vehicle” sign, along with an MECP 2026 Applicator sticker on the vehicle. Passenger vehicles may also be used and will be equipped with the same signage, along with a flashing beacon and Pestalto insignia.

Larviciding is one measure used to impede mosquito breeding and control adult mosquito populations.
To reduce the spread of West Nile virus, LPH works across several areas, including managing diseases and outbreaks, enforcing by-laws to reduce standing water, and treating catch basins to control mosquito populations.

Lambton Public Health also encourages residents to:

• Use insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin
• Wear long sleeves, pants, and socks outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitos are most active
• Remove standing water around your property, including in flowerpots, gutters, and other containers or toys
• Maintain swimming pools and ponds to help prevent mosquito breeding

Mosquito trap surveillance and testing will begin in early July. Positive findings will be reported, and health system monitoring of human cases is ongoing.

LPH conducts vector surveillance by monitoring mosquito populations for West Nile virus and tracks human cases while working with health care providers on case management. Residents can also explore local data and trends through LPH’s new Climate Change Dashboard.

Lambton Public Health would like to remind the public that there is no collection of dead birds for West Nile virus surveillance.

If residents find a dead bird on their property, they are asked to dispose of it properly using gloves or a bag to pick up the dead bird, followed by discarding the bag and the bird into a garbage container to be disposed of with their regular garbage.

For more information about WNV, or dead bird disposal, call the West Nile virus Information Line at 519-383-3824, toll-free 1-800-667-1839 ext. 3824 or visit LambtonPublicHealth.ca.

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Please contact:
LPH-media-inquiries@county-lambton.on.ca