Toronto Public Health (TPH) has reported the city’s first probable case of West Nile virus in a human this year.
In a news release on Friday, the public health unit said the case is in an adult resident. West Nile Virus is an infection that is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, according to TPH.
Symptoms, which usually begin to show two to 14 days after a person has been bitten by an infected mosquito, may include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph glands.
Older people or people with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of severe illness, according to the public health agency.
Toronto Public Health said residents can protect themselves from the virus in the following ways:
- Wearing light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors.
- Applying an insect repellent approved by Health Canada and following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Taking extra care during peak mosquito-biting time, which is dusk and dawn.
- Removing standing water from property where mosquitos can breed.
- Ensuring screens are tight-fitting on windows and doors.
Anyone who is concerned about any symptoms should contact their health care provider, TPH says.