Public health officials in Halton Region say the first batch of mosquitos carrying West Nile virus in the Burlington, Ont., area was discovered this week.
In a release, the region’s health authority said it’s the sixth batch they’ve found this year with four recently found in Oakville and another in Milton.
The region’s risk assessment for contacting disease is still low in humans despite the discovery.
The health unit says the region’s urban areas are more likely to have mosquitoes carrying the virus, which tend to occupy bird baths, plant pots, old toys and tires that hold water.
“Most individuals infected with virus do not develop any symptoms while some may develop fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash,” the municipality said in a statement.
“The majority of individuals will recover completely.”
Older adults or those with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to symptoms brought on by an infection, including fever or more severe illnesses including inflammation of the brain or the lining of the brain.
Typically, symptoms appear two to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
Compared to 2021, Halton is trending in the direction of a decline in positive mosquito pools.
The region had 12 positive pools, six in Burlington, during its spring and summer surveillance last year.
Health officials say preventive measures such as using insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin, and wearing loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing will reduce your risk of contracting disease while outdoors.
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