1-800-563-2808 www.myhealthunit.ca FACTS ON WEST NILE VIRUS How to Prevent Mosquitoes from Breeding Mosquitoes require standing water to lay their eggs. By reducing the amount of standing water on your property, you can significantly decrease mosquito breeding around your home. Elimination of potential breeding sites should begin in early April and monitoring should continue throughout the summer. Take these steps to reduce your risk for West Nile Virus: 7 8 1. Clean birdbaths twice a week and maintain ornamental ponds. 1 2. Cover or turn over any toy, garden equipment or container that can hold water. Drill holes in the bottoms of containers that cannot be removed. 2 6 3 4. Repair outdoor faucets that leak. Change water in outside pet bowls daily. 5 5. Store small boats upside down. Be sure boat covers are completely drained when stored. 4 6. Fill in hollow tree stumps and rot holes that hold water with sand or concrete. Image courtesy of Illinois Department of Public Health (with permission) 7. Dispose of, or store in a dry place, any cans, bottles, tires, etc. that may hold water. Other precautions:  Keep grass cut short and trim shrubs to eliminate hiding places for mosquitoes. Don’t allow grass clippings and debris to clog street gutters: these are prime breeding sites.  Ensure your home has tight-fitting screens. Adapted with permission from Lambton Health Unit NORTH BAY PARRY SOUND BURK’S FALLS 3. Clean roof gutters and remove standing water from flat roofs. Place screens over rain barrels. 8. Clean and chlorinate swimming pools and hot tubs. Be sure rainwater does not collect on covers. Turn over wading pools when not in use. Page 1 of 1 681 Commercial Street, North Bay, ON P1B 4E7 • Tel: (705) 474-1400 / Fax: (705) 474-9481 70 Joseph Street, Unit 302, Parry Sound, ON P2A 2G5 • Tel: (705) 746-5801