Toronto Public Health has issued a reminder to residents following the city’s first confirmed human case of West Nile virus in an adult this year.
The virus is spread by bites from infected mosquitoes. Health officials advise wearing light‑colored, long‑sleeved shirts and pants, applying a Health Canada‑approved insect repellent according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and taking extra precautions during peak biting times at dusk and dawn.
Additional measures include eliminating standing water around properties where mosquitoes can breed, and ensuring windows and doors have tight‑fitting screens.
Symptoms usually appear between two and fourteen days after a bite and can include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, body aches, skin rash, swollen lymph glands, and a stiff neck.
Older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of severe complications, such as encephalitis or meningitis. While most people recover fully, a small number may develop serious illness affecting the central nervous system.
Earlier in July, York Region and Toronto recorded their first mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus, following a similar finding in Halton Region on July 2. Urban areas are more likely to harbor the mosquito species that transmit the virus, often breeding in bird baths, plant pots, old toys, and tires that hold water.
Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and adopt preventive measures to reduce the risk of infection during the mosquito season.
