Now that there’s a break in the wet weather for this weekend’s forecast, campers and festival goers can get back on track planning outdoor getaways.
But the recent weather has created a perfect storm for a spike in mosquito counts.
Numbers have been below historical averages so far this year, but Russell Eirich, manager of forestry, horticulture and pest control for the City of Regina, says the city continues to monitor the numbers very closely.
“It’s July, it’s summertime, it’s hot, we’ve had a lot of wet weather a lot of rain,” Eirich said.
“We are around town, we’re getting to those puddles where we do see mosquito larvae. When we do, we’re treating it.”
According to the Government of Saskatchewan, since 2003 there have been 157 severe neurological cases of West Nile Virus, and 17 deaths in the province.
Jon Flaman, retail marketing manager at Cabela’s Canada in Regina, said the best remedy is prevention.
Flaman said there are the “classic” solutions from sprays, wipes and other topicals to innovative technology for a bigger impact.
“The newest options is the Thermocells,” Flaman said.
Small clouds of repellant are automatically dispersed through the palm-sized gadget, protecting the wearer and anyone else within 4.5 metres.
Eirich says homeowners can do their part as well and “drain the rain” around their property. It only takes one cup of water to breed one thousand larvae.