Hamilton, Ont., is reporting its first human case of West Nile virus for the season. On Tuesday, the city’s health unit confirmed the infection, prompting the Medical Officer of Health to move the virus’s risk from moderate to high. Further, Hamilton Public Health is reminding residents to protect themselves against mosquito bites and to remove standing water from private property to prevent mosquitos from breeding. Public health officials say approximately 80 per cent of people who contract West Nile virus will have no symptoms. “Others, particularly older adults or people with weakened immune systems, may experience West Nile fever or may develop more severe illness, including inflammation of the brain or the lining of the brain. This can occur in about one per cent of people infected with West Nile virus,” Hamilton Public Health said in a news release. “If symptoms do occur, they appear two to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.” It added that its comprehensive West Nile Virus surveillance and prevention program includes continual assessments for the risk of human illness. Prevention is key: Hamilton Public Health Hamilton Public Health noted that it has completed a third round of larvicide treatments on street catch basins, “in addition to treating surface waters on public land in an effort to reduce mosquito populations and the risk of West Nile virus.” “It is important to take precautions to avoid illnesses spread by insects including West Nile Virus, Lyme disease and Eastern equine encephalitis,” said Dr. Bart Harvey, Associate Medical Officer of Health. Precautions to take to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes “Employing simple preventive measures, such as using insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin, covering up, and removing standing water on your property to prevent mosquito breeding, will reduce your risk while you enjoy the outdoors,” Harvey said. “The risk of these infections will drop once there is heavy frost that reduces the number of mosquitoes.” More information on the West Nile virus and Hamilton Public Health’s mosquito control program can be found online or by calling 905-546-2489.
