Manitoba cities launch mosquito fogging to curb West Nile virus

The City of Winnipeg will begin a targeted fogging program on Friday evening after the provincial Environment Act order required action because of high numbers of Culex tarsalis mosquitoes and an elevated West Nile virus risk. The operation, using the insecticide DeltaGard 20EW, will start at 9:30 p.m. and cover multiple neighbourhoods, including Fairfield Park, Richmond West, Waverley West, Whyte Ridge and several industrial areas. Buffer zones are not applied within city limits, and the schedule will be posted online at least eight hours in advance.

In Brandon, the city council directed administration to start fogging on Monday despite some council members’ disagreement. Officials noted limited supplies of the fogging chemical, citing a recent withdrawal of the product’s manufacturer from the niche market, and warned that larviciding efforts have been insufficient. The council is urged to expand larviciding to better control mosquito populations before the next high‑water season.