First mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus

OTTAWA – Ottawa-area mosquitoes have tested positive for the West Nile Virus (WNV) this summer.

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is reminding residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites when going outdoors. Mosquito trapping and testing—components of OPH’s WNV program—have confirmed the presence of WNV in Ottawa mosquitoes again this year. In addition to protecting themselves against mosquito bites, all Ottawa residents need to help reduce mosquito populations around their homes by getting rid of all outdoor objects that can hold water in which mosquitoes can lay their eggs.

WNV is an infection spread in Ottawa primarily by the northern house mosquito that, in a small number of cases, can cause serious illness. Most people will not develop any symptoms if infected with WNV, but about 20 per cent may experience flu-like symptoms including fever, headache, muscle aches and, possibly, a rash. The risk for more serious illness—occurring in less than one per cent of infections in which WNV invades the central nervous system—increases with age, with older adults and the elderly as well as people with weakened immune systems being at higher risk.

There have been no reported confirmed or probable human cases of WNV in Ottawa in 2018. In Ontario, as of July 21 there have been two reported human cases this year. In 2017, there were 20 confirmed or probable human cases reported in Ottawa, and 147 confirmed or probable human cases in Ontario.

OPH urges residents to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites by:

• Applying a Health Canada-approved mosquito repellent containing DEET or icaridin to exposed skin and clothing
• Protecting yourself especially between dusk and dawn, periods when mosquitoes are most active, and at any time in or near shady, bushy, or wooded areas
• Wearing light-coloured, tightly woven, loose-fitting clothing including long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, shoes and socks to protect exposed skin.
• Making sure all windows and doors in your home have screens that are in good condition
• Reducing standing water sites around your home (bird baths, toys, flower pot saucers, swimming pool covers, old tires, wheelbarrows, buckets, cans, etc. ­– anything that can hold water for 7 days or longer)
• Ensuring all openings to rain barrels are covered with screen mesh at all times

OPH has a proactive plan to deal with WNV that includes weekly surveillance and, when necessary, mosquito larvicidal treatment of natural and man-made standing water sites located on City property, such as ditches and storm water management ponds. As part of this plan, OPH also has regular applications of larvicide in City-owned roadside storm sewer catch-basins to reduce the mosquito population.

For additional information on West Nile Virus, visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca or call Ottawa Public Health Information at 613-580-6744 (TTY: 613-580-9656). You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter  (@ottawahealth) and Instagram.