CK Public Health is issuing a public reminder after it received confirmation that mosquitoes collected from a trap in North Chatham have tested positive for West Nile virus.
The health unit said on Friday that the mosquitoes were collected earlier in the week and are the first positive trap in Chatham-Kent this season.
"West Nile virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito," the health unit said in a news release. "Most people infected with the virus have no symptoms or have minor flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches and fatigue."
In rare cases, infected individuals may experience more severe illness, including stiff neck, nausea, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, and lack of coordination or paralysis. Older individuals and those with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of severe illness.
It's recommended that anyone with severe symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.
Individuals are reminded to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites by wearing light-coloured clothing, including long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks, using insect repellent, staying indoors from dusk to dawn, ensuring that all doors and window screens are tight and eliminating any standing water from a property.
