

Chris Herhalt, CP24.com





Several mosquitoes caught in a trap in Mississauga have tested positive for West Nile virus, public health officials in Peel Region say.

The mosquitoes were found in the area of Derry Road and Goreway Drive sometime this week, the Region of Peel’s public health unit said in a news release.

Thirty-one mosquito traps are maintained throughout Peel during the summer months, Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lawrence Loh said in the release.

Officials said warmer-than-normal summer weather this year has “resulted in increased mosquito activity.”

Loh encouraged residents to wear insect repellant with DEET and remove pools of stagnant water on their properties.

West Nile is spread to humans or animals through mosquito bites. Its symptoms can include fever, headache, rashes and swollen lymph glands and usually appear two to 15 days after infection.

There have been no confirmed human cases in the province this season.