Wallaceburg mosquito pool tests positive for West Nile Virus

Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit is reporting that mosquitoes collected from a trap last week havetested positive for West Nile Virus in Wallaceburg.

Earlier this month, mosquitoes collected from three different parts of Chatham-Kent Blenheim, Dresden and northwest Chatham tested positive as well.

The health unit warns people that most people infected with the virus either have no symptoms at all or come down with flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches and fatigue.

More serious symptoms include a stiff neck, nausea, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, lack of coordinator or paralysis.

However, the chances of getting West Nile Virus from an infected mosquito are low, according to the health unit.

People can use a number of protective measures including the following:

• Wearing long sleeves, light-coloured colothing.
• Using insect repellent containing DEET and follow the label directions.
• Staying indoors at dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
• Ensuring doors and window screens are tight and hole-free.
• Eliminating mosquito breeding sites by removing standing water.