Just a single bite from an infected mosquito can cause an infection of WNV.

First human case of West Nile for season recorded

Mosquito-borne illness can be serious, though most people recover quickly

Manitoba has its first confirmed human case of West Nile virus for the season. Manitoba Health reported July 29 that a female in her 60s who lives in the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority was identified as suffering from the virus. Additionally, the province noted a pool of Culex tarsalis mosquitoes carrying WNV was been collected

One type of mosquito, the Culex tarsal, spreads WNV to horses and humans and this species usually appears later in the summer season.

West Nile virus revisits horses in the Prairies

Horse Health: There can be cycles of this disease, which are subject to a complex interplay

Since the first horse was detected with West Nile virus (WNV) in Canada in 2002 the prevalence of the disease has cycled annually through peaks and troughs. The initial peak prevalence occurred in 2003 following its introduction. In the following years much fewer cases were reported until 2007 when the incidence of the disease spiked


Mary-Lou and John Hughes were always careful to avoid mosquito bites, but say it never 
crossed their minds how serious an illness from West Nile virus could get.

Roland reeve recovering from severe West Nile virus

John Hughes spent 13 months in hospital after developing the most serious form of West Nile virus in September 2016

A Roland man who spent 13 months in hospital following a West Nile virus (WNV) infection hopes some normalcy returns to his life this year. “This year my goal is to be able to get up and onto my tractor, and mow my yard and walk around the house,” said John Hughes, husband and father

Province supports improved flood forecasting

swan river, man. / The province will support a volunteer-based snow- and rainfall-monitoring network called the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) in Manitoba, which will provide more accurate and timely weather data to enhance flood forecasting, Premier Greg Selinger announced April 27. “Manitoba is always looking for ways to improve flood forecasting


In Brief… – for Jul. 22, 2010

New faces at the NFU: The Saskatoon-based National Farmers Union has a new administration after incumbents Darrin Qualman and Terry Pugh resigned to pursue other opportunities. Ross Hinther, a Saskatoon-area cattle and organic grains farmer, is the NFU’s new director of research. Kevin Wipf, formerly a political science and public policy instructor at the University

In Brief… – for Jul. 15, 2010

Winnipeggers out of cluck: It looks as if there won’t be backyard chickens in Winnipeg after all. Winnipeg City Council’s property committee has decided to take no action on a request to allow city residents to keep a few hens in their backyards for fresh eggs. The committee voted to receive the request as information,


In Brief… – for Aug. 6, 2009

El Nińo coming: Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology says an El Nińo weather system in the Pacific Ocean would be established by September-November at the latest. The bureau said there was now agreement between international weather models that an El Nińo, which can bring drought conditions to Australia and weaken Asian monsoons, would be established by