Lambton Public Health (LPH) is confirming the first two positive tests for West Nile Virus in the county this year.
The health unit said mosquitoes collected on Wednesday, August 16 from two traps, located in Wyoming and Sarnia, have tested positive for the virus.
No positive human cases of West Nile have been confirmed to date in the county.
Lambton Public Health said West Nile Virus is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Most people infected do not get sick, and those who do become ill usually experience mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, skin rash, or muscle aches.
Lambton Public Health has issued the following tips to reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes.
• Avoid areas with high mosquito populations.
• Take extra precautions from dusk to dawn when mosquito activity is high.
• Wear protective, light-coloured clothing.
• Use repellents containing DEET or Icaridin. Follow label instructions carefully.
To reduce mosquito breeding areas, drain areas of standing or stagnant water on your property, remove old tires, turn over pails, toys, and wheelbarrows, change water in bird baths (at least weekly), and keep eaves clear to avoid trapped water.
For more information, contact the West Nile Virus information line at 519-383-3824, toll-free at 1-800-667-1839 (ext. 3824), or online at www.lambtonpublichealth.ca.
According to Public Health Ontario, there have been two reported human cases of West Nile Virus as well as 114 positive mosquito pools across the province thus far in 2023.
