First human case of West Nile virus this year reported in Windsor-Essex

A mosquito appears in this undated file photo. (Jimmy Chan / Pexels)

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has confirmed its first human case of West Nile virus this year in one resident.

The virus is an infection transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. The health unit said this positive human case is a reminder for Windsor-Essex residents to continue to protect themselves.

“It is important for everyone to eliminate any standing water around their property and take personal protective measures to avoid mosquito bites even as we approach the cooler fall months”, said Dr. Aloosh, WECHU medical officer of health.

Most people with WNV never develop symptoms and will not know that they have infection with the virus. Symptoms usually start to show between 2-14 days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito. They can include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph glands.

While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe disease. Anyone concerned about any symptoms should contact their health care provider.The following tips can help protect individuals from mosquito bites:

Apply insect repellents that are approved by Health Canada and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and a hat when outdoors. Light-coloured clothing is best as mosquitoes tend to be attracted to dark colours.

Limit the time you spend outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

Remove any standing water in places such as bird baths, buckets, old tires, pet water dishes and gutters around your property.

Make sure that door and window screens fit securely and are holes-free.

Call 311 or your local by-law enforcement for standing water observed in your community

For more information on WNV, please visit the WECHU’s WNV page. For mosquito-borne disease surveillance data, please visit www.wechu.org/reports/mosquito-surveillance. Data is updated every Friday