With the arrival of warmer weather and summer around the corner, Toronto Public Health encourages residents to enjoy physical activities outdoors, but also for residents to protect themselves and their families against West Nile virus (WNV).
WNV is a potentially serious illness that is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Although the risk of becoming infected with WNV in Toronto is low, residents should protect themselves against mosquito bites to help reduce the risk even further.
While four out of five people who are infected do not show any symptoms, the chances of becoming severely ill from WNV infection are greater in seniors and those with weakened immune systems. Those who do get sick usually develop symptoms two to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Symptoms may include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph glands. Residents should contact their health care provider with any concerns about symptoms.
Residents can follow these simple steps to avoid mosquito bites:
• Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors.
• Apply insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Take extra care during peak mosquito biting time (dusk and dawn) by using mosquito repellent and wearing protective clothing.
• Homes should have tight-fitting screens on windows and doors.
It is also important for residents to reduce breeding grounds for mosquitoes by draining standing water from around their home on a regular basis, as mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water, even small amounts. Keep bushes and shrubs clear of overgrowth and debris as adult mosquitoes like to rest in dense shrubbery, and turn your compost pile often.
Toronto Public Health monitors and reports weekly mosquito surveillance data on WNV positive mosquitoes and human cases of WNV. To reduce the species of mosquito that can transmit WNV, the City of Toronto applies larvicide to catch basins and monitors surface water locations to determine if treatment is necessary. These mosquito reduction activities take place each summer.
More information about mosquito surveillance and reporting in Toronto is available at
https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/west-nile-virus/.
Quotes
“Each year our staff begin TPH’s adult mosquito surveillance from now until the end of September. While we receive reports of West Nile Virus positive mosquitoes each year, the overall risk of becoming infected in Toronto is still considered low. I encourage our residents and visitors to continue to enjoy the outdoors but to take steps, especially among our seniors, to protect themselves from mosquito bites and to watch out for signs or symptoms of West Nile Virus infection.”
– Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health
“Monitoring and reporting on the presence of mosquitoes that may carry West Nile virus and other infectious diseases is one of the many ways Toronto Public Health works to protect the people who live in and visit Toronto year-round.”
– Councillor Joe Cressy (Ward 10 Spadina-Fort York), Chair of the 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.
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