Stock photo of a mosquito on human skin during summer months (courtesy: getty/T O)
Chatham

Mosquitoes test positive for West Nile Virus in Ridgetown

More mosquitoes are testing positive for the West Nile Virus in Chatham-Kent after results came back from a trap in Ridgetown.

The insects were collected on August 13 and are the first positive pools identified from the Ridgetown trap this season.

Two other pools in Chatham-Kent have already tested positive for the virus this summer -- one in Wheatley on July 3 and one in Dresden on August 7.

CK Public Health said many people who are infected with the virus will not experience symptoms, but some may experience mild symptoms like fever, headache, body aches, and fatigue.

In rare cases, infected individuals may experience more severe illness including stiff neck, nausea, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, and paralysis. Anyone experiencing severe symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. Older individuals and those with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of severe illness.

To protect yourself against mosquito bites CK Public Health recommends wearing light-coloured clothing, staying indoors from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active, and eliminating sources of standing water on your property to prevent mosquito breeding.

For more information on West Nile Virus click here.

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