

Joshua Freeman, CP24.com





Toronto Public Health is warning people to guard against mosquito bites after receiving a lab report indicating mosquitoes in Toronto have tested positive for West Nile virus.

“This is a timely reminder to the public to protect themselves from mosquito bites and to remove standing water from their property where mosquitoes can breed," Elaine Pacheco of Toronto Public Health said in a news release.

West Nile is transmitted to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes. About one in five people who are infected will feel sick, but recover on their own. About one in 150 people will experience serious symptoms, including stiffness of the neck, disorientation, muscle weakness and loss of vision. Older people and those with compromised immune systems are most at risk.

While officials say the risk of becoming infected is low, they say guarding against the proliferation of mosquitoes can help curb incidences of human infection.

Dr. Arlene King, the province’s chief medical officer of health, sounded a similar tone Wednesday.

“Generally repellants that contain DEET are safe and effective in preventing bites from mosquitoes,” King said. “The first line of defence though is to make sure we try to get rid of stagnant water around us because that’s where mosquitoes actually breed.”

King said people should take care to empty standing water that may gather in empty tires, eavestroughs, basins under flower pots, bird baths and other places.

She said parents of small children should consult with a pharmacist to see what insect repellants are safe for their kids.

King also said people should be vigilant if they experience persistent flu-like symptoms in the middle of the summer.

“If you get flu-like symptoms – fever, chills, muscle aches —in the middle of the summer when there’s no influenza around, you have to be concerned about some of the potential causes for that,” King said.

The city is advising a series of measure residents can take to help prevent mosquitoes from breeding. They include:

Wearing light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts, pants, socks and a hat when outdoors, especially at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

Using insect repellent approved by Health Canada and following product instructions.

Removing standing water from property where mosquitoes can breed.

Maintaining screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of your home.

Toronto Public Health conducts weekly tests of mosquito traps around the city to keep an eye out for the disease. The city also treats catch-basins and areas of standing water with larvicide to prevent the proliferation of mosquitos.

This is the first positive test for the virus in Toronto this year. In 2012, city health officials reported 100 positive mosquito pools and 94 human cases of the virus. West Nile virus was first discovered in Toronto in 2001.

Overall Ontario saw 273 human cases of the virus last year.

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