The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

la i NEWS Surrounded by development SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMVENT New gag show has 4 Milton connections 'WeekeiiU Pt ___ METROLANO COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER VOL. 146 NO.44 '! FRIDAY AUGUST 12,2005 $1.00 (GST included) 48 PAGES "Using Communication to Build Better Communities" West Nule virus is 110W in Milton By MELANIE HENNESSEY The Champion For the first timne this season, West Nile virus has shown up inl Milton. The Halton Region Health Department received confirmation Monday that a dead crow found in the area of Ontario Street and Derry Road on a pri- vate propea-ty tested positive for the disease. T'he bird was one of four confirmed for West Nile this week in Halton - two others were found in Burlington and one in Oakville. Three other dead crows discovered in Burlington also tested positive recently. along with one mosquito pool. "While West Nile virus activity in south Burlington is continuing at higher levels than else- where in I-lton, these new results show that the virus is being foundci throughout Halton,' said Dr. Munir Taha, associate medical officer of health for Ownod end Operated by FEuRsu ToyotA VoEHIts - Comipetitive daily, weekly anti monthly rates. . 24 Hour Roadside Assistance anywhere sn Canada or the U.S.A. - Customer pick-up and returir iFàcauoe li Iummao Cowus" the Region. "I would like to eruphasize that aIl] Halton resi- dents. especially older adults and elderly persons, should take extra precautions to protect theruselves against mosquito bites during the high risk monthu of Augout and September." At this time last year. three hirds had already been confirmed to be infected with West Nile in Milton - two found in the rural ares west of Regional Road 25 at the beginning ofiJune and one that tumned up south of Acton near the end of July. So far this season, residents have reported a total of 795 dead birds they've found tbroughout the region - 366 in Burlington. 267 in Oakville, 87 in Halton Hilîs and 75 in Milton. Halton Environmental Health Manager Maurice Dickhout said it's likely more birds found in I-lton will test positive for West Nile virus this year. WHEEKEI4D SPECIAL Starting at $199 plu sr an plue srda wu 900tu FREE *~ Pmi 25 A.R MuLs Ru RWTi. Once a bird, human or mosquito pool tests posi- tive, Mr. Dickhout said additional mosquito trap- ping is done to see how serious the situation is. Mosquitoes can transmit West Nule to humans once they become infected by feeding on the blood of birds carrying the virus. The Region is also applying larvicide to standing water sites where staff identified mosquito larvae. So far, 17 sites have been treated in Burlington. 27 in Oakville, 20 in Halton HuIs and 22 in Milton. In addition, three out of four rounds of larvicide have been applied to catch basins througbout Halton. Mr. Dickhout echoed Dr. Taha's thoughts that residents should be taking extra steps to protect themselves from West Nule virus over the next two months. This can be done by: " Avoiding areas with high mosquito populations " Wearing, light-coloured, loose-fitting. tightly- see NO on page A2 410 Stooles Ave. Milton <Imido Milton Toyota) 905-875-3771 I M -Hot, hot, hot! Sa you think it's hot out- side? Try being a f ire- fighter. Here firefighter Tim Brown gets some cool relief at the side of pumrper #31. Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Indie Comment ......A5-A1 Datoline ......A21-A22 Clasified .....A28-A32 Real Esate..A34-A35 FRIDAY, AUGUST 12. 'Selocled amoas only 410 Steeles Ave. MiltOn (Inside Milton Toyota) 905-875-3771