Huron Perth public health announced Tuesday that mosquitoes collected from traps in Stratford and southern Huron County tested positive for West Nile virusmarking the area’s first cases of the virus in mosquitoes this season.
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“The findings indicate that (West Nile virus)-positive mosquitoes could be present anywhere in Huron and Perth,” the health unit said in a release.
The health unit was also notified of an American Crow, a known carrier of the virus, testing positive in north Huron County.
“It’s not surprising to see positive mosquito pools in the month of August,” senior public health inspector Dale Lyttle said. “People are at greatest risk of contracting West Nile virus in late summer, so it is important to protect yourself while outdoors when mosquitoes are most active.”
There have been three confirmed cases of West Nile virus in humans in Ontario this year, though not everyone bitten by an infected mosquito will show symptoms of the virus. Symptoms may include mild illness such as a fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting and a rash on the chest, stomach or back. About one-in-150 people who contract the virus will get seriously ill and experience symptoms like high fever, muscle weakness, vision loss and even comas, the health unit said. Serious cases of the virus can be fatal.
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Symptoms often start to appear between two and 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Those most at risk for the virus include people over 50 and those with weakened immune systems.
Huron Perth public health said residents can protect themselves from mosquitoes by using an insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin when outdoors, wearing light-colored clothes with long sleeves and pants and removing standing water around the home at least once a week to reduce mosquito breeding grounds.
The health unit has been trapping and testing mosquitoes across both counties since June 17. To reduce mosquito breeding and lower the risk of potential West Nile virus transmission, larvicide has been applied to roadside catch basins in Stratford, St. Marys, Listowel and Mitchell.
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