West Nile virus detected in Toronto mosquito pool for first time this year
Posted July 18, 2023 8:57 am.
Last Updated July 18, 2023 9:00 am.
The City of Toronto is reporting its first case of the West Nile virus in mosquitoes this year.
Toronto Public Health says one batch of mosquitoes, collected from a location in northwest Scarborough, tested positive for the virus.
West Nile is an infection that is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito.
“The risk of becoming infected with West Nile virus continues to be low in Toronto, however there are some simple steps residents can take to further reduce their risk when enjoying the summer,” Dr. Eileen de Villa, the city’s medical officer of health, said in a release.
Some ways to protect yourself against mosquitoes include:
- Wearing light-coloured long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors
- Wearing bug spray containing DEET
- Remove standing water from properties where mosquitoes can breed such as pool covers, buckets, planters, toys and waste containers
- Take extra care during peak mosquito-biting hours of dusk and dawn
- Make sure homes have tight-fitting screens on windows and doors.
The City conducts mosquito surveillance from mid-June to mid-September each year with weekly testing of 22 mosquito traps that are set up across Toronto.
In 2022, a total of 14 mosquito pools tested positive for West Nile.
Health officials say symptoms of the virus can develop between two and 14 days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito. Those who have compromised immune systems and older individuals have a higher chance of severe illness.
Some of the symptoms include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Body aches
- Skin rash
- Swollen lymph glands
