The Chatham-Kent Public Health has received laboratory confirmation that mosquitoes collected Aug. 25 from a trap in Dresden have tested positive for West Nile Virus, marking the first positive pool identified in the municipality this season.
Health officials say West Nile Virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, and many people infected with the virus experience no symptoms at all. Some may develop mild symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches and fatigue, while in rare cases infected individuals may experience more severe illness, including a stiff neck, nausea, difficulty swallowing, vomiting and paralysis. Anyone experiencing severe symptoms should seek immediate medical attention, and older individuals and those with compromised immune systems are considered at higher risk of severe illness.
The health unit says the virus poses a risk anytime mosquitoes are biting, and is urging residents to protect themselves and their families by wearing light-coloured clothing, including long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks, and using insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin according to label directions. Officials also recommend staying indoors when mosquitoes are most active, from dusk to dawn, ensuring door and window screens are tight and free of holes, and eliminating sources of standing water on properties to prevent mosquito breeding.
Weekly data from the West Nile Virus surveillance program is available at ckphu.com/ticks-mosquitoes. More information on the virus can be found at canada.ca or by calling Chatham-Kent Public Health at 519-352-7270.
