The first probable human case of West Nile virus in 2024 was reported in Toronto, the city’s health department said on Friday.
In a press release, Toronto Public Health (TPH) said the likely case is an adult resident. It has yet to be confirmed by laboratory tests.
“While the risk of West Nile virus infection in Toronto remains low, now is a good time to remind residents ahead of the long weekend of the steps they can take to avoid bites from infected mosquitoes while it’s on enjoying the beautiful summer weather,” he told Dr. Eileen De Villa, the city’s health officer, in the press release.
“Apply insect repellent, wear light-colored clothing, long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and take extra care between dusk and dawn, as these are the hours most affected by mosquito bites.”
The virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito and can cause the following symptoms:
- Fever.
- Headache.
- nausea.
- Vomit.
- body aches.
- Skin rash.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
Any symptoms that might appear generally begin about two to 14 days after the bite, TPH said. Older people, especially those with weakened immune systems, are at higher risk of developing more severe illness from the virus.
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According to the press release, there were 14 laboratory-confirmed cases of West Nile in the city in 2022.
The city conducts mosquito surveillance with 22 traps every summer from mid-June to mid-September. Every week, mosquitoes from these traps, called batches, are sent to a laboratory for testing. According to TPH, 20 batches have tested positive for West Nile so far this year.
“With the increasingly hot weather in Toronto recently, there is a higher risk of mosquitoes, which can transmit the virus once infected,” the press release said.
Several GTA regions and cities have recently reported finding mosquitoes that have tested positive for the virus, including Brampton, Markham and Hamilton.
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