

Toronto mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile virus for the first time this year, Toronto Public Health confirmed Wednesday.

"The positive test result is a good reminder for Toronto residents to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites and to remove standing water from their properties to prevent mosquito breeding," said Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Toronto's Acting Medical Officer of Health.

But health officials say the risk of getting infected is still low, and protecting yourself with light-coloured long clothing and insect repellent can further reduce that risk.

There are no reported human cases of the virus in Toronto in 2016 so far.

The city tests batches of mosquitoes throughout the city every week in laboratories, between June and September. Each batch has up to 50 mosquitoes of one species, the city agency says.

Toronto currently has 43 traps across the city to test for West Nile virus.

Two of these pools of mosquitoes tested positive for the virus, Toronto Public Health announced in a news release Wednesday.

Last year, 18 mosquito pools tested positive and there were 13 confirmed human cases, according to Toronto Public Health.

For more information, visit the city's environmental page.