Hastings and Prince Edward Counties/Aug. 13, 2024
Recent surveillance conducted by Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) has identified the presence of mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus (WNv) in the Belleville area. This is the first pool of mosquitoes that have tested positive for WNv in Belleville this year.
WNv is an infection found in birds and carried by mosquitoes which feed on infected birds. WNv is spread to humans and animals through bites by infected mosquitoes. Early symptoms of WNV can include fever, muscle weakness, stiff neck, confusion, severe headache, sudden sensitivity to light, tremors, numbness, or vision loss. The majority of infected individuals have mild symptoms or none at all. In severe cases, WNv can cause inflammation of the brain known as encephalitis. If individuals believe they are experiencing early symptoms of WNv, they are encouraged to contact their primary health care provider.
The recent hot and rainy weather may have contributed to an increase in the local mosquito population, raising concern about local WNv activity. HPEPH will continue to conduct surveillance for WNv throughout the region until the end of August.
“The recent finding of local mosquitoes carrying WNv serves as a reminder to take precautions to prevent bites and reduce potential breeding sites for mosquitoes,” says Dr. Ethan Toumishey, Medical Officer of Health at HPEPH. “Residents can protect themselves and help stop the virus from spreading by avoiding being outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active, wearing clothes to cover up, using bug sprays with DEET or Icaridin, and making sure there’s no standing water on their property.”
Steps to protect yourself from WNv
- Wear light-coloured clothing and minimize exposed skin if you are out at dawn and dusk.
- Use an insect repellant containing DEET or Icaridin and follow manufacturer’s directions.
- Consider wearing permethrin-treated clothing.
- Remove any sources of standing water where mosquitoes can lay their eggs, including jars, discarded tires, clogged gutters, yard decorations, and stock tanks.
- Empty bird baths every other day and cover rain barrels with a tight-fitting fly screening.
- If you encounter a dead bird do not handle it with bare hands, instead, use a shovel to dispose of it. If you must handle the bird, wear rubber gloves and wash hands well with soap and water after handling.
- Report dead birds to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative.
For more information, please visit hpePublicHealth.ca/west-nile-virus/.
HPEPH Diseases of Public Health Significance (DOPHS) Dashboard provides monthly reports on local rates of DOPHS, including WNv. You can see the WNv data on the dashboard.
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Media Contacts:
Maureen Hyland, Communications Specialist
hyland.maureen@hpeph.ca
Emily Tubbs, Communications Specialist
etubbs@hpeph.ca
Communications Team
communications@hpeph.ca
About Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) is a public health agency that serves the counties of Hastings and Prince Edward from four local offices. HPEPH is situated and provides services on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee people. We monitor the health of our local population, deliver programs and services within our communities, and help develop healthy public policies. We provide information and support in many areas to help improve the health and well-being of our residents. Together with our communities, we help people become as healthy as they can be. For more information, please visit hpePublicHealth.ca. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
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