Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall
West Nile Virus and standing water
Summer is almost here, bringing with it mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are mostly a nuisance and their bites are uncomfortable, but certain mosquitoes can also be infected with the West Nile Virus. A bite from an infected mosquito can transmit the virus to people.
Officials with the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit say West Nile Virus can cause an infection in people. West Nile Virus can cause symptoms like fever, muscle weakness, stiff neck, confusion, severe headache or sudden sensitivity to light. If you suffer from any of these symptoms, you should see your health care provider immediately.
If you “Cover Up – Clean Up”, you can drastically reduce your chances of getting West Nile Virus from an infected mosquito.
Covering up involves some personal attention before heading outdoors when mosquitoes are active:
– Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks.
– Apply insect repellent containing DEET sparingly to exposed skin surfaces.
– Stay indoors when mosquitoes are most active between dusk and dawn
– Most mosquitoes require certain amounts of standing water to lay their eggs. Old tires, birdbaths, small containers, stagnant ponds or pool covers that are not maintained can easily provide enough water for mosquitoes to lay eggs and reproduce.
To clean up:
– Clean birdbaths weekly.
– Maintain ornamental ponds and aerate them or stock them with larvae-eating fish.
– Cover or turn over toys and equipment that can hold standing water.
– Drill holes in the bottoms of containers that cannot be removed.
– Place screens over rain barrels.
– Fill hollow tree stumps and rot holes that hold water with sand or concrete.
– Do not allow water to collect on pool covers.
– Clean and chlorinate swimming pools and hot tubs.
– Empty wading pools when they are not in use.
– Clean roof gutters and remove standing water from flat roofs.
– Cut the grass and reduce excess vegetation where mosquitoes seek shelter during the day.
Remember that the Chatham-Kent standing Water by-law is in effect from May 15 to September 30.
Call the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit at 519-352-7270 for more information on West Nile Virus or to report any potential infractions under the standing water by-law.
FREE community meals for June in Wallaceburg
Here is a list of the FREE community meals happening across Wallaceburg in the month of June:
If you have a suggestion, story idea, column idea, or if you want to say hello… drop me an e-mail at aaron@sydenhamcurrent.ca.
Photo of the day
CogecoTV Chatham Producer, Erik Shaw has been selected as a finalist in the annual CogecoTV Star Awards. Erik’s short documentary on the former Merrill Hotel and current Retro Suites was chosen from among 18 Ontario CogecoTV stations for special recognition at the Wednesday, June 21st awards ceremony, to be televised live at 8pm from Kingston.
Erik’s segment, which features Chatham-Kent Museum Education Coordinator, Deanna Bullard, and Retro Suites Manager, Pete Tsirimbis, will be aired as part of the CogecoTV Ontario program Main Street, which will premiere on Sunday, June 4th at 9pm. This program takes a look at heritage buildings on main streets across Ontario.
Event: Main Street
Time: Sunday, June 4, 9pm
Where: CogecoTV Chatham, ch. 11 and HD 700; Wallaceburg, ch. 6 and HD 700
Event: CogecoTV Star Awards
Time: Wednesday, June 21, 8pm
Where: CogecoTV Chatham, ch. 11 and HD 700; Wallaceburg, ch. 6 and HD 700
Weather forecast for Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Today – A mix of sun and cloud with 40 percent chance of showers. Risk of a thunderstorm this afternoon. Wind becoming west 20 km/h gusting to 40 early this afternoon. High 22. UV index 7 or high.
Tonight – Partly cloudy. 40 percent chance of showers early this evening with risk of a thunderstorm. Clearing late this evening. Wind west 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light late this evening. Low 9.
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