Brantford, ON (September 2, 2016) – Overall, it has been a relatively low activity season for West Nile Virus (WNV) in Brantford and Brant County. The Brant County Health Unit did not detect any positive WNV mosquito pools this season. Recent reports of human cases of WNV are being seen in the news in nearby urban areas in southern Ontario.
Symptoms of West Nile Virus include fever, headache, body aches, mild rash and swollen lymph glands. However, the vast majority (70-80 per cent) of humans who carry West Nile Virus display no symptoms at all.
To protect the health of Brantford and Brant County, residents are encouraged to take precautions to limit their exposure to mosquitoes when enjoying outdoor activities to decrease their chances of becoming ill with West Nile Virus by:
• Draining any small pools of standing water on private property, or reporting larger bodies of standing water by contacting the BCHU at 519-753-4937 ext. 444, as standing water is often a breeding ground for mosquito populations
• Wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts, long-legged pants, socks and a hat (including a mosquito head net) to avoid mosquito bites
• Use insect repellent sprays or lotions that contain the chemicals DEET or Icaridin
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