One case of the West Nile Virus has been confirmed in the Southern Health region so far this summer, and recently, six more cases have been reported in the province.

Doctor Richard Rusk, Manitoba Officer of Health for Communicable Diseases with Southern Health, says it's been a frustrating year for them.

"We've noticed for a few weeks now that the number of the Culex Tarsalis have actually been quite high," says Rusk. "This is the small mosquito that spreads the West Nile Virus."

The provincial west nile website says mosquito traps in the Southern Health region have so far found 45 mosquitoes that are infected with West Nile virus.
Here in the southeast, infected mosquitoes have turned up in traps in Steinbach, Ste. Anne, Niverville and Beausejour.

For information on how to protect yourself from the West Nile Virus, go to http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/wnv/.