Staff
The Grey Bruce Health Unit is reminding residents and visitors to take precautions against mosquito bites. Earlier this week, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit identified mosquitos in Collingwood that tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV).
“The finding in Collingwood indicates that West Nile Virus could also be present in Grey Bruce, as in other parts of Ontario,” said Christine Kennedy, Medical Officer of Health.
In Grey Bruce, the presence of the mosquito that can carry West Nile virus was confirmed in the Blue Mountains area as the result of an investigation into standing water. The health unit will start mosquito surveillance this summer in Grey Bruce.
WNV is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms usually develop 2 to 14 days after receiving a bite from an infected mosquito. Approximately 80% of those infected with WNV do not show any symptoms. Of the 20% that do show symptoms, most experience mild illness with symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, skin rash and occasionally, vomiting and nausea. Less than 1% of those infected with WNV experience severe illness involving the central nervous system.
The risk of exposure to WNV around the home can be reduced by eliminating mosquito breeding sites, including standing water in places such as bird baths, eavestroughs, flower pots and discarded tires; by wearing protective clothing; always using mosquito repellent when outdoors at dawn and dusk; and by preventing mosquito entry into the home.
