Welcome to the Ontario Vector Control Association website.

The history of the Ontario Vector Control Association is described elsewhere on this site; however, I believe that it is appropriate to give recognition where it is due. Several people maintained the association during the hiatus from late 70's to its resurgence in 2001 when West Nile Virus became a concern in Ontario. These include Mike Baskerville, Frank Mangan, Gordon Rogers and Gord Surgeoner. Their commitment and dedication to the organization enabled it to address its mandate since the outbreak of St. Louis encephalitis.

The development of West Nile virus in Canada has been rapid and on an individual level devastating for some families. No other insect borne disease has had such a widespread impact on the Canadian scene for over two centuries. This is not to minimize the limited St. Louis encephalitis outbreak that occurred over three decades ago and the recent ongoing concern with Lyme disease.

West Nile virus has spread across Canada with the exclusion of British Columbia, Newfoundland and the Northern Territories. West Nile Virus made it to North America with hitch hiking mosquitoes presumably from the Middle East and is now considered established in several areas of Canada. The concern is that the introduction of new diseases will continue especially as our traveling habits continue.

The Ontario Vector Control Association through its meetings and its website endeavors to support the efforts of organizations across Canada to address arthropod borne diseases and inform the health service and government agencies.