In a year cloudy with pesky mosquitoes, West Nile Virus has returned to Chatham-Kent.
Health unit officials have learned a pool of mosquitoes collected from a trap this week in southeast Chatham tested positive for the virus.
West Nile Virus is mainly transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. Very few people infected with the virus have any symptoms at all, or they have flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches and fatigue.
Those with more severe illness may experience stiff neck, nausea, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, and lack of co-ordination or paralysis.
Anyone with the sudden onset of these severe symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.
The chances of getting West Nile Virus from an infected mosquito are low. The risk of severe illness increases with age, as well as for those individuals that have compromised immune systems.
Protect yourself and your family by wearing protective, light-coloured clothing, including long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks; using insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin and follow the label directions; staying indoors when mosquitoes are most active (dusk to dawn); and ensuring that all door and window screens are tight and free of any holes.
Residents should also take the time to eliminate mosquito breeding sites by removing any standing water from their property.
