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Posted through The Standard September 3, 2020, Archives, Home, Health and Senior Life, News
DURHAM: The Durham Region Health Department won a notification of adult mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus (WNV) from a mosquito trap site in Ajax. Confirmation was won on August 27. We have now demonstrated the presence of positive mosquitoes in the Ajax, Pickering and Oshawa traps. “With the presence of positive mosquitoes now shown in 3 communities in the Durham region, we inspire the citizens of the region to take mandatory steps to protect themselves from possible exposure to the West Nile virus,” said Lisa Fortuna, Director of Protection de la Salud, Department of Health. “This comes with minimizing the chances of mosquitoes to breed and taking precautions to protect yourself from mosquito bites. ” WNV is a mosquito-borne disease that is transmitted to humans through the bite of an inflamed mosquito. Mosquitoes become inflamed by feeding on the blood of a bird carrying the virus. They do not transmit the disease from one user to another or from one bird to another, directly. Most people who contract the virus will develop mild illnesses, adding fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and a rash on the chest, stomach, or back. The most serious symptoms could possibly come with muscle weakness, stiff neck, confusion, tremors, numbness, and sudden sensitivity to light. Symptoms generally spread between two and 15 days after being bitten by an inflamed mosquito. Although the threat of infection is low, citizens deserve to take the necessary precautions to minimize the threat of mosquito bites and the option of being inflamed with WNV: • Wear light-colored shoes, socks, and clothing; adding long-sleeved blouses and long pants outdoors, especially at dusk or dawn when mosquitoes are most active. • Use insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin on exposed skin, follow Health Canada’s protective recommendations on the use of non-public insect repellants. • Remove state water from your assets where mosquitoes can breed. • Make sure window and door screens are in good condition to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home. The Durham Region Health Department installs mosquito traps in the region and tests mosquitoes for laboratory testing each week between June and September. Additionally, regional watersheds and other stagnant water sites are treated with a larvicide to reduce mosquito breeding. For more information on VNO, call the Durham Health Connection line at 905-668-2020 or 1-800-841-2729, or stop by at durham. ca/westnile.