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Winnipeg has long been Canada’s mosquito first city, but Edmonton is challenging it this year. These days, mosquito traps in Edmonton are catching five times more mosquitoes that those in Winnipeg. Rainy spells followed by warm weather are responsible for the huge rise in the number of these maddening insects.

Inhabitants of Edmonton are asking for a substantial increase in the budget to combat the mosquito populace which can carry West Nile Virus. West Nile Virus delivers symptoms similar to a severe bout of flu, although older and younger victims have passed away from epidemics. County health officials are considering spraying public areas before official public festivals to reduce the incidence of biting.

On the other side of the world, in Sidney, Australia, the parks department has also started its anti-mosquito spraying agenda and inhabitants are invited to call in to be added to a ‘no spray’ list, if they are afraid of the toxicity of the insect spray. It is considered that most people will prefer having their block and garden sprayed as the numbers of mosquitoes are rising there as well.

However, the spraying plan has always proved a success in the past and will like continue to be so. This year it will be supplemented by poisoning ponds and lakes with larvacide, which is a more functional form of control adding fish to the ponds that consume mosquito larvae would be an even better manner. The tablets are known as Altosid and last for 30 days, although they are also considering using XR which works for 150 days.

West Nile Virus is also a difficulty in Sidney, although there have not been any recorded cases yet. This means nothing though as most individuals who get WNF think that they have a summer cold. The city health authorities say that they are continuing to trap mosquitoes and carry out autopsies on dead birds to get an early notification of a likely WNV epidemic.

The city health department is warning all those more than 50 years of age and those with a weakened immune system to take extra care by using a repellent including DEET, picaridin or lemon eucalyptus oil on bare skin and by wearing long trousers and long-sleeved shirts at dusk and at dawn.

They are also recommending doing basic maintenance and repairs about the home and garden. In particular, fly screens ought to be repaired and all stagnant water should be drained. They advise drilling holes in any old tyres and containers that can hold water, because mosquitoes just need a half inch of water to breed.

In the meantime, in the States, anti-mosquito action is also being pursued. It appears that wherever you go in the world, the local authorities are trying to do something about the number of mosquitoes. Do they know something that we don’t?

Like in Sidney and Edmonton, they too are worried around the West Nile Disease which appears to have crowd running frightened all over the world.

In Jacksonville, they are also recommending that individuals remove the mosquito’s breeding grounds from gardens and rubbish ground by up-turning any bin that could hold water after rainfall. They also recommend unblocking drains and gutters.

They warn about keeping your animals safe from Eastern Equine Encephalitis during dawn and dusk and keeping yourself protected by wearing long clothing at dawn and dusk. Finally, they say to rub DEET on all exposed areas of skin.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with finding natural remedies for mosquito bites. If you want to know more, please go to our website at Getting Rid of Mosquito Bites.

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