Toronto's health department has confirmed a human case of West Nile virus, the first this year.

Dr. Michael Finkelstein, an associate medical officer of health with Toronto Public Health (TPH), says the resident is a middle-aged person between 40 and 60 years old.

He says the man became ill early in August, went to his family doctor, had a blood test, and that TPH received the confirmatory test yesterday. Finkelstein says the man "had potential exposures in Toronto and outside of the city."

The risk in Toronto is still low, Finkelstein says, and the number of mosquitoes infected with the virus is very small.

He added that this time of year is when the department traditionally sees the cases of virus showing up in humans.

​While the risk of being infected with West Nile virus is low, officials are reminding residents to:

Use mosquito repellent.

Take extra care during peak mosquito-biting time.

Wear protective clothing.

Remove standing water from your property.

Make sure your home has tight-fitting screens on all windows and doors.

West Nile virus symptoms usually develop between two and 15 days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito, TPH says. Symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, body ache, skin rash and swollen glands.

In 2013, 18 positive mosquito pools and 12 human cases were reported to TPH. In 2014, 10 positive mosquito pools and three human cases were reported to the department.

More information about West Nile virus is available at http://www.toronto.ca/health/westnile.