Two human cases of West Nile Virus have likely been identified in the area. The Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit says it is doing further testing to confirm the lab results are correct before the cases are confirmed as West Nile. One of the cases was likely picked up in New Tecumseth which is in the Simcoe area. The health unit says the wet and mild weather summer summer has caused a spike in mosquitoes this summer, but the health unit’s numbers show West Nile in the Muskoka area is hovering around average.
The health unit’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Charles Gardner, says people may think the risk of being bitten by a mosquito is lower now that summer is ending, but that’s not the case. He says the chance of getting West Nile is highest in late summer and early fall. He says as long as the bugs are active, we need to be careful.
That includes wearing light coloured clothes with long sleeves, staying indoors from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active, and remove standing water around your home. The health unit also says to use an approved bug spray and make sure mosquito screens don’t have any rips or tears.
The health unit says less than one per cent of people infected with West Nile have symptoms, which can include high fever, severe headaches, and muscle weakness. It says in rare cases it can cause meningitis, encephalitis or death. People over 50-years-old, with weakened immune systems or chronic diseases are at the highest risk.