Waterloo Region reports its first West Nile cases for 2024
The Region of Waterloo is reporting the year's first confirmed cases of the West Nile virus.
It's also the first human infections in the area since 2018.
According to public health, the two recent cases were both acquired locally from infected mosquitos.
“The hot summer temperatures and increased levels of rain over the last few months have created the favourable conditions for West Nile virus in our region and other areas across the province,” said Dr. Rabia Bana, the region’s associate medical officer of health, in a media release.
While most people don’t experience symptoms with West Nile, those that do could see the effects two to 15 days following a bite. Public health said the symptoms may include: mild fever, headache, muscle aches, stiff neck, swollen glands and skin rash.
“It rarely can cause a more severe clinical syndrome that has pretty profound neurologic manifestations. Fortunately, that's rare, but it does happen,” explained Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist from Toronto.
He said it’s typical for the virus to be circulating locally, especially during August and September.
“The best way of preventing any of these infections… is just avoid getting mosquito bites,” said Bogoch.
Public health recommends:
- Wearing light-coloured clothing, long sleeves, pants, socks and a hat outdoors
- Using insect repellent with DEET or Icaridin
- Avoid the outdoors during dusk and dawn, when mosquitos are most active
“In addition, be sure to look around your property and remove standing water sources where mosquitos can breed,” Bana suggested.
Public health shared these tips for keeping the bugs away:
- Get rid of any outdoor objects that collect water
- Cover rain barrels with a fine mesh screen
- Change the water in birdbaths at least once a week
- Remove standing water from pool covers
- Don’t allow water to collect in roadside ditches or low-lying areas on your property
- Aerate ornamental ponds and fountains
You can learn more about West Nile on the Region of Waterloo’s website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Federal government to further limit number of international students
The federal government will be further limiting the number of international students permitted to enter Canada next year. It's the government's latest immigration-related measure to address Canadians' ongoing housing and affordability concerns.
Search for suspect in Kentucky highway shooting ends with discovery of body believed to be his
Authorities say they believe the body of a man suspected of shooting and wounding five people on a Kentucky interstate highway has been found.
Here's why you should get all your vaccines as soon as possible
With all these shots, some Canadians may have questions about the benefit of each vaccine, whether they should get every shot and how often to get them, and if it's safe to get them all at once or if they should space them out.
Bloc MPs will vote confidence in Liberal government next week: Blanchet
The Conservatives' first shot at toppling the Liberal government is likely doomed to fail, after Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet told reporters his MPs will vote confidence in the government.
'I'm here for the Porsche': Video shows brazen car theft in Mississauga
Video of a brazen daylight auto theft which shows a suspect running over a victim in a stolen luxury SUV has been released by police west of Toronto.
Exploding electronic devices kill 20, wound 450 in second day of explosions in Lebanon
Lebanon's health ministry said Wednesday that at least 20 people were killed and 450 others wounded by exploding electronic devices in multiple regions of the country. The explosions came a day after an apparent Israeli attack targeting pagers used by Hezbollah killed at least 12 and wounded nearly 3,000.
'It starts off innocent': Manitoba man loses $185,000 to crypto-romance scam
A Manitoba man is warning others after he fell victim to an elaborate online scam over the summer.
Teen faces new charge in Sask. high school arson attack
A 14-year-old student who allegedly set her classmate on fire is facing a new charge.
Quebec woman charged with first-degree murder in death of five-year-old boy
A 29-year-old Quebec woman is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of a five-year-old boy southwest of Montreal.