Chatham-Kent Public Health received laboratory confirmation that mosquitoes collected last week from a Dresden trap tested positive for West Nile virus.
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It’s the first positive pool identified in Chatham-Kent this season from this trap, the health unit said in a release Tuesday.
The mosquitoes were collected from the trap Aug. 7.
The virus is transmitted to people through bites from infected mosquitoes. Many people infected with the virus experience no symptoms; however, some may experience mild symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches and fatigue.
In rare cases, infected people may experience more severe illness, including stiff neck, nausea, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, and paralysis.
Anyone with severe symptoms should seek immediate medical attention, the health unit says. Older people and those with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of severe illness.
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People can protect themselves by:
- Wearing light-colored clothing, including long-sleeved shirts, pants, and socks
- Using insect repellent containing DEET (follow the label directions)
- Staying indoors when mosquitoes are most active (from dusk to dawn)
- Ensuring that all screens are tight and free of holes
- Eliminating standing water on your property to prevent mosquito breeding
The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends cleaning eavestroughs regularly to prevent clogs that trap water, tipping fishing boats and gear onto their sides to drain, and replacing water in outdoor pet dishes and bird baths at least twice a week.
For more information on West Nile virus, visit www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/wn-no/index-eng.php or call CK Public Health at 519-355-1071.
To monitor weekly data from Chatham-Kent’s West Nile virus surveillance program, visit ckphu.com/health-topics/thegreatoutdoors/
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