A mosquito trapped during weekly testing by the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit recently tested positive for West Nile Virus.
It was the first positive case in this region for the season. No mosquitos tested positive last year, but health unit officials say there were confirmed human cases in Ontario.
West Nile Virus is primarily transmitted through mosquito bites. Although the majority of cases do not show symptoms, some infected individuals may experience mild flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, and body aches and others may develop severe neuro-invasive disease, which disproportionately affects older adults.
The health unit’s area includes communities in Northumberland County such as Cobourg, Port Hope, Grafton, Colborne and Brighton.
