The virus spreads through infected mosquitos and about one out of 150 people infected will develop a serious or fatal sickness, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The virus spreads through infected mosquitos and about one out of 150 people infected will develop a serious or fatal sickness, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus have been detected in both Vaughan and ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½, marking the first positive tests for the virus in both regions this summer, public health officials warned.Â
that three mosquito batches collected from traps across the city tested positive this week. The findings came through the city’s annual mosquito surveillance program, which runs from mid-June to mid-September and tests 22 traps set across ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½.
“The risk of getting infected with West Nile virus in ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ is low,” TPH said.
In York Region, Â they regularly test for the virus by setting up mosquito traps around the region. The positive test came from a trap near Weston and Rutherford roads.
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West Nile virus spreads through the bite of an infected mosquito, leading to serious or fatal sickness in about one out of 150 people infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Knowing if you’ve contacted the virus can be tricky though, as eight out of 10 infected people don’t develop any symptoms, the CDC says.
The American agency adds that one in five people with the virus will develop a fever or other symptoms like a headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most completely recover though general fatigue could linger for weeks or months.
The virus gets more severe if it hits the central nervous system where serious symptoms could include a high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis, the centre said, adding that the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions are at greater risk.Â
Around 10 per cent of people who develop serious illness from the virus infecting their central nervous system die, the CDC said.
Both public health agencies said the best way to avoid the virus is to keep the bugs away by wearing repellent, clothes covering the skin, keeping windows closed at home and cleaning standing water where mosquitoes can breed.Â
Kristjan Lautens is a staff reporter, working out of the Star’s
radio room in ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½. Reach him via email: klautens@thestar.ca
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