Manitoba Health is reporting the mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus in Manitoba are present in a number of areas.
Preliminary analysis of the adult mosquitoes trapped for the week of June 28 showed Culex tarsalis mosquitoes in many communities in southern Manitoba, but the numbers remain low.
Culex tarsalis mosquitoes are the mosquitoes most likely to carry West Nile virus.
The risk of being bitten by a mosquito carrying West Nile virus will increase with warm weather as these conditions are favourable for Culex tarsalis.
It is possible that there are some infected Culex tarsalis mosquitoes present at this time, but the province says the risk of exposure to West Nile virus continues to be relatively low.
Most of the mosquitoes collected have been nuisance mosquitoes, which do not carry West Nile virus.
Weekly average trap counts of Culex tarsalis by regional health authority are available on the province's West Nile virus website at www.gov.mb.ca/health/wnv.
