Mosquito Swarm (Pixabay)
West Nile Virus (WNV) has been found in two batches of trapped mosquitoes this week in Halton Region.
These are the first batches of WNV positive mosquitoes for Halton this year. In June, a bird tested positive for the virus.
Urban areas are more likely to have mosquitoes that carry WNV. The types of mosquitoes that transmit WNV to humans most commonly breed in urban areas such as bird baths, plant pots, old toys and tires that hold water.
Most individuals infected with WNV do not develop any symptoms while some may develop:
- fever
- headache
- body aches
- joint pains
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- rash
The majority of individuals will recover completely, but a few may go on to develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system. This may include encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord). Individuals with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease and individuals over 50 years of age are at higher risk for severe disease.
- Residents can take the following steps to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes:
Cover up when going outside between the hours of dusk and dawn (when most mosquitoes feed), and at any time in shady, wooded areas. Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants with tightly-woven fabric. - Reduce mosquito breeding sites around your home by getting rid of all water-filled containers and objects. Change the water in bird baths at least once per week.
- Use an approved insect repellent, such as one containing DEET or Icaridin.
- Make sure your window and door screens are tight and without holes, cuts or other openings.
Locations of standing water sites that have had larvicide applied this year are available on the West Nile Virus page on halton.ca. For more information about West Nile virus or to report standing water at public facilities, please visit halton.ca or call 311.
If you have a news tip or story idea, you can now send us a heads up via email at News1013@LocalRadio.ca. If you’d like to get ahold of me personally, shoot me a message at Cameron.Wilkinson@LocalRadio.ca. We’re in the business of content creation, so no idea is a bad idea.
