BRANTFORD — Three positive cases of West Nile Virus have surfaced in Brant County. The Brant County Health Unit issued an advisory to the public this week, cautioning residents to take precautions and avoid being bitten.
“We are continuing to monitor and control local mosquito activity,” says Diana Duncan, Public Health Inspector at the Brant County Health Unit. “This includes mosquito trapping, as well as applying pesticide treatments to storm sewer catch basins to kill mosquito larvae and reduce the number of mosquitoes.”
One positive mosquito pool with 11 mosquitoes tested positive for WNV in the pool. The pool was located in West Brant.
West Nile virus is spread to people and animals through the bite of infected mosquitoes. The mosquitoes get the virus by feeding on infected birds. The virus does not spread from person to person. Only 1 in 150 people infected with WNV will experience symptoms, and of those, only 20% will become seriously ill.
To prevent against mosquito bites and West Nile virus, people are encouraged, regardless of where they are, to minimize unprotected time spent outdoors at all times, particularly between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
The health unit is also urging homeowners to remove any type of standing or stagnant water and trim any dense shrubbery on their property to reduce the breeding grounds and help reduce the number of insects around their homes.
