West Nile Virus has been found in a third mosquito trap in Chatham-Kent this season.
On Monday morning, Chatham-Kent Public Health confirmed the trap tested positive for West Nile Virus after laboratory results from mosquitoes collected last Tuesday in Dresden came back.
The two other positive traps were found in northwest Chatham in early August and southwest Chatham in mid-July.
Public health officials said that West Nile Virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito and many people infected with the virus experience no symptoms. There have been no human cases of the West Nile Virus reported in Chatham-Kent.
Public Health Ontario said there have been two confirmed or probable human West Nile Virus cases reported in the province so far this season, adding there have also been 114 West Nile Virus-positive mosquito pools found in Ontario since surveillance started a few months ago.
Some people may experience mild symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches and fatigue, and in rare cases, infected individuals may experience more severe illness, including stiff neck, nausea, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, and lack of coordination or paralysis, said CK Public Health.
The Ontario Ministry of Health said approximately one in 150 people will have serious symptoms.
"Anyone with severe symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. Older individuals and those with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of severe illness," said Public Health Inspector Kurt Clemens.
Surveillance statistics from the Government of Canada showed 47 human cases of the West Nile Virus reported last year, 45 cases in 2021, 166 cases in 2020, 45 cases in 2019, and 437 cases in 2018.
The first human case of West Nile Virus infection in Canada was reported in Ontario in 2002.
Individuals can protect themselves by doing the following:
Wearing light-coloured clothing, including long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks
Using insect repellent containing DEET (follow the label directions)
Staying indoors when mosquitoes are most active (dusk to dawn)
Ensuring that all door and window screens are tight and free of holes
Eliminating sources of standing water on your property to prevent mosquito breeding
More information on West Nile Virus can be found by clicking here or by calling CK Public Health at 519-355-1071.
