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West Nile Virus Surveillance
The Health Unit has placed several vector (mosquito) traps around Windsor and Essex County. Vector traps are also called mosquito pools or mosquito collections. The term pool does not mean that mosquitoes were found in standing water.
Mosquitoes are attracted with dry ice and caught in the mosquito netting at the bottom of the trap.
Each week the mosquitoes are collected and sent to Brock University in St. Catharines for testing.
Test results are sent to the Health Unit every week.
Please do not disturb a trap if you see one. The traps are easily damaged and are an important tool in the fight against West Nile Virus. You also risk getting a mosquito bite if you touch a trap; after all, the trap is there to attract mosquitoes.
For more information, please call Windsor Essex Health Unit at 258-2146 ext. 1473 or 1491.
2006 West Nile Virus Surveillance Results
| DATE | Number Positive | Type of Bird | Total Postive |
| As of Oct. 11/06 | 1 | Crow | 5 |
| 4 | Blue Jay |
After the first four birds are confirmed positive by Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health
Centre, further (initial) VecTest ® WNv-positive birds will be recorded as “presumed confirmed”.
Mosquito Surveillance
| DATE | Total Positive |
| As of Oct. 11/06 | 14 |
Human Surveillance
| DATE | Probable | Total Confirmed | Total Positive |
| As of Oct. 11/06 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
A human case is identified when a person visits a physician and the symptoms of West Nile virus infection are identified. The health care provider then submits a blood sample to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL). The first test performed is the IgM ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay), which, if positive, is run once more to rule out false positive results. These two tests may be additionally followed by the PRNT (Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test) to confirm the diagnosis. If the IgM ELISA tests are positive, the patient is advised that they are a 'Probable' WNv case. The ELISA results are available within 24 hours, while the PRNT confirmation testing takes an additional 7 days.
Probable cases refer to patients with two positive IgM ELISA (enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay) tests.
Confirmed cases refer to patients with two positive ELISA tests AND either a positive confirmatory PRNT (plaque-reduction neutralization test) OR three previous cases have been confirmed by PRNT in the same health unit this year.