West Nile cases continue to increase in the province, although no additional fogging is planned for Southern Regional Health Authority.

Dr. Shelley Buchan, medical officer of health with RHA Southern Region, said there is still a risk, however, going into September there should be some decline.

"The overall numbers of mosquitoes in Southern Manitoba are declining for Culex Tarsalis. However, with the warm temperatures we are having, there is still an opportunity for the mosquitoes out right now (to) take a blood meal," said Buchan. "Normally about this time of the year, when the temperatures are cooler, the mosquitoes go into hibernation mode. But because it is really warm still, they still might be out there biting people."

There have been 108 traps found with positive Culex Tarsalis mosquitoes infected with West Nile in Manitoba this summer, compared to zero in 2011, and 20 in 2010.

As of Aug. 24, nine human cases have been identified, up from five the previous week. In comparison, last year there were no cases.

From the nine found, two are from the Southern regional health authority, five from the Winnipeg region, one from Western, and one from the Interlake-Eastern.

Ontario has seen a significant increase in West Nile cases this summer also, with 82 people diagnosed with the illness. From that number, 44 were identified in the Toronto region.

Buchan said while the Culex numbers and the risk is declining overall, it is still possible that people could be infected with West Nile at this time of the year due to the warm temperatures.

It takes roughly about three weeks from the time a person is bitten, to when they have symptoms, and later have a lab report completed to confirm they have West Nile.

Buchan confirmed more positive human cases are being identified.

"Our numbers are not nearly as high as what Ontario is seeing, but they are higher than what we have seen in the last couple of years," she said. "We still expect we will get a few more positive human cases, from the risk that would have happened a few weeks ago. But that should be declining in the next couple of weeks."

angela.brown@sunmedia.ca