Toronto Public Health has received laboratory confirmation of Toronto’s first reported case of West Nile virus for 2019 in an adult resident. West Nile virus is an infection transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito.
While the risk of getting infected in Toronto remains low, Toronto Public Health advises residents to take these precautions to avoid bites from infected mosquitoes:
• Wear light-coloured clothing, long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors.
• Apply insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Take extra care during peak mosquito-biting hours, dusk and dawn, by using repellent and covering up.
• Make sure your home has tight-fitting screens on windows and doors.
• Remove standing water from your property, where mosquitoes can breed. Standing water includes any water that collects in items such as buckets, planters, toys and waste containers.
West Nile virus symptoms usually develop between two and 14 days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito. Symptoms may include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph glands. Older individuals or individuals with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of severe illness. If you or a family member has concerns about any symptoms, contact your health care provider.
In 2018, 39 laboratory-confirmed human cases of West Nile virus and 40 positive mosquito tests were reported to Toronto Public Health.
More information is available at https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/west-nile-virus/.
Quotes:
“As we head into late summer, we know that residents and visitors to Toronto are maximizing their time outside to enjoy the weather and outdoor activities. We encourage everyone to take the appropriate precautions to minimize the risk of exposure to West Nile virus through the bite of an infected mosquito.”
– Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health.
“We know that as summer winds down people are spending even more time outside and that can mean increased interaction with mosquitoes. Toronto Public Health, in addition to seasonal monitoring to control mosquito populations, recommends you wear insect repellent and appropriate clothing, and follow prevention measures to reduce your risk of getting bitten by mosquitoes so you can enjoy yourself while outdoors.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Ward 10 Spadina-Fort York), Chair, Toronto Board of Health
Toronto is Canada’s largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of more than 2.9 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world’s most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cityoftoronto, on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cityofto.