Toronto Public Health officials are gearing up for mosquito season, taking steps to eradicate the West Nile virus.
Throughout the month of May, mosquito traps are being set across the city to track the potentially deadly infection.
"This gives us an early indication of West Nile areas of concern and how prevalent it may or may not be in the city," said Danny Kartzalis, a public health official who manages the city's West Nile program.
Once officials analyze the traps, the city starts larvaciding problem areas. Larvicides are usually dropped into catch basins and open bodies of water to prevent the mosquitoes from breeding.
There has been a marked decrease in the number of people infected with West Nile in Toronto.
In 2002, 166 people reported catching the illness whereas in 2007, only four people became sick from West Nile. However, the numbers have sometimes spiked over the years. In 2005, the number of people infected jumped to 38 from just six cases in 2004.
Kartzalis said there are many environmental factors, such as temperature and rain, that have an impact on the strength of the virus.
"Last year we had a hot summer, but the numbers were down," he said. "Maybe the public was taking more precautions...it's tough to make a prediction."
Experts say the public should always be mindful of stagnant pools of water that are a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Matet Nebres
