Jon McFadden (left) and Kara Noland
Headlines (Campus Updates)
Public Affairs
Fighting West Nile
Students apply academic knowledge to combat virus
Jun 13/03
Two Laurier Co-op students are on the front line of the campaign against West Nile virus this summer.
Kara Noland and Jon McFadden are participating in surveillance and prevention programs for the County of Oxford Public Health & Emergency Services and both are pleased that they can apply their academic knowledge on the job.
“I am using microscopic techniques I’ve learned as a biology and chemistry major to determine which species of mosquitoes are present in the area, because certain species are more inclined than others to bite humans,” says Noland.
McFadden, who majors in geography, says, “We’re both gaining practical skills that enhance what we’ve learned in the classroom.”
Reducing the number of sites where mosquitoes breed is the best way to prevent the virus from spreading to humans, so Noland and McFadden are promoting the message “Fight the bite! Drain the rain!”
Through presentations to service groups and municipal employees, the duo are trying to persuade people to remove standing water from places like bird baths, flowerpots and eavestroughs. They have also distributed information pamphlets to schools, garden centres, campgrounds and golf courses.
McFadden is using the Global Positioning System (GPS) to map locations of standing water, such as open ponds and both are screening local catch basins for the presence of mosquito larva, so they can decide where to apply larvicide.
West Nile virus is spread through a continuous cycle between mosquitoes and birds with crows being particularly susceptible. As a result, Noland and McFadden are charged with the location and collection of dead crows for laboratory testing. It is hoped that through such work researchers will be able to spot patterns in the spread of the virus.
“This is a great job because we get to use scientific knowledge for the technical work, and develop people skills while interacting with members of the public,” says McFadden.
Noland adds, “We are both proud to have the opportunity to contribute to the surveillance program of West Nile virus in this region.”
Public Affairs
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, ON
N2L 3C5
