First human case of West Nile in Hamilton reported this season

The City of Hamilton has confirmed its first human case of West Nile virus this season.

This has prompted the medical officer of health to upgrade the West Nile virus risk level to high from moderate.

A public health news release issued Friday reported that its environmental division is seeing more mosquitoes in traps test positive for West Nile virus.

“The risk of being infected with West Nile virus exists locally,” public health’s Dr. Bart Harvey said in the release.

The city is assessing that risk as part of a surveillance and prevention program, and continues to conduct larvicide treatments on street catch basins as well as surface waters on public land.

The risk of West Nile will drop once a heavy frost reduces the number of mosquitoes, Bart said.

People are encouraged to take precautions, including applying insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin, and covering up.

They are also advised to remove standing water on their property to prevent mosquito breeding.

Approximately 80 per cent of people infected with the virus have no symptoms, but older adults and those with weakened immune systems may experience West Nile fever and more severe effects including inflammation of the brain or lining of the brain, according to the public health news release.

With any infection, if symptoms do occur, they appear within two to 14 days after a bite from an infected mosquito.

So far this year, Halton has not had any human cases of West Nile virus reported, according to the region’s website.