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   Wednesday, February 08, 2012
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If you or a family member will be out of the province for more than three months, you need to make sure your health coverage remains in place. Call Health Registration at 1-800-667-7551. Read more about health benefits.

During the warmest months of the year, the Ministry of Health assigns a weekly West Nile Virus (WNV) risk rating to each health region in the province. This does not indicate your risk of being bitten by mosquitoes; it is an estimate of the relative risk of being infected with West Nile Virus, which generally happens with mosquito bites by a Culex tarsalis mosquito.

The map shows generalized levels of risk. Risk may vary in localized areas.

Weekly West Nile & Culex Reports

Weekly reports describing some details of factors affecting the potential for infection with West Nile Virus, and tracking human cases and other signs indicating risk.

Estimated risk levels: September 15, 2011

West Nile Virus Risk Levels Map - Ministry of Health

West Nile Virus Risk Levels Map

 

  Minimal
(blue)

Few West Nile Virus mosquitoes present. Minimal risk does not mean no risk; take precautions against mosquito bites.

Low
(yellow) WNV mosquito development. Take precautions against mosquito bites.
Moderate
(orange) The mosquito species that carries West Nile Virus has been recorded in numbers that warrant extra precautions.
High
(red) WNV-positive mosquitoes identified in significant numbers. Precautions against mosquito bites should be taken at all times.

 

Estimates updated each week during West Nile season.

  Estimated
West Nile
Virus Risk 		Health Region
High  
Moderate
Low Kelsey Trail, Prairie North, Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Sunrise, Cypress, Heartland, Regina Qu'Appelle, Five Hills, Sun Country
Minimal Keewatin Yatthé, Mamawetan Churchill River, Athabasca

Regardless of the risk rating for your region, remember that there is no such thing as "risk-free".  If you can be bitten by a mosquito, you can contract West Nile Virus.

 Source:  Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, Population Health Branch

Factors

The risk of becoming seriously ill is low in children, but increases with age and with levels of virus circulating in the Culex tarsalis mosquito population. The risk tends to peak in Saskatchewan during July, August and early September, when standing water and other mosquito larva habitats are present, and following extended periods of warm weather. See Awareness and Prevention in Related Links, below.

Related Links
West Nile Virus

Information about the disease, prevention, mosquito control programs, risk levels and surveillance results.

West Nile Virus Awareness and Prevention

Information and tips about protecting your family from West Nile virus.

West Nile Virus Surveillance Results

West Nile Virus test results of suspected or confirmed human cases, and prevalence in mosquitoes and horses are posted on this page.



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