Six Mosquito Batches Test Positive for West Nile Virus in Durham Region

Adult mosquitoes collected in Ajax and Pickering have tested positive for West Nile virus, according to the Durham Region Health Department. Six mosquito batches have tested positive in Durham Region so far this season: two in Clarington, two in Oshawa, and one each in Ajax and Pickering.

The information comes from the Health Department's laboratory testing of mosquito samples collected at traps across the region. The department submits samples for testing every week between June and September.

West Nile virus is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The Health Department states that mosquitoes become infected after feeding on the blood of birds carrying the virus. The disease does not spread from person to person or directly from birds to humans.

Most people who contract West Nile virus experience mild illness, which may include fever, headache, body ache, nausea, vomiting, or rash. More serious symptoms can include muscle weakness, stiff neck, confusion, tremors, numbness, or sudden sensitivity to light. Symptoms typically appear within two to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, according to the Health Department.

The Health Department reports that the risk of infection remains low. The Health Department treats regional catch basins and stagnant water sites with larvicide as part of ongoing mosquito control measures.