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A batch of mosquitoes in Toronto has tested positive for West Nile virus, Toronto Public Health says, just days after mosquitoes in York and Halton regions also tested positive.
The batch is the first in Toronto to test positive for the virus this year, the public health unit said in a news release Friday. The virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Every year, Toronto Public Health conducts mosquito surveillance from mid-June until mid-September.
Once a week, 22 traps are set across the city to collect mosquitoes. The mosquitoes are then submitted to a laboratory for identification and testing.
The news comes after public health units in York and Halton regions confirmed that some mosquitos in their areas tested positive for the virus. The findings mark the first positive cases for both regions this summer.
York Region confirmed the positive test Thursday, while Halton Region confirmed the positive test July 2.
In York Region, the positive tests were found in two mosquito traps in Markham.
Mosquitoes with the virus are more common in urban areas, according to Halton Region.
The region said in a news release that most people who are infected don’t have any symptoms, but some may develop fever, headache, body aches, nausea and rashes.
While the majority of people “recover completely,” the region said some go on to develop severe illnesses affecting the central nervous system. People over the age of 50 or with weakened immune systems are at a greater risk for severe disease.
Toronto, York Region and Halton Region recommend people take the following precautions:
- Wear long, light-coloured clothing.
- Cover up between dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
- Use insect repellent with DEET or Icaridin.
- Eliminate pools of water on your property, such as in planters, pool covers and waste containers.
- Ensure window and door screens are tight-fitted.
