Hamilton woman died of West Nile virus: family
Health officials warn people to avoid mosquitoes
Pay attention to the risk of West Nile virus and take precautions against mosquito bites, warn city health officials, after Hamilton’s first case this year has surfaced.
The warning also comes on the heels of a Hamilton family revealing a local woman died after a year-long battle with the virus — a death the city is unaware of.
In a Sept. 18 notice, the family of Adele Turek, 71, says she died after a battle with the virus, and asks donations be directed to local research on the infection.
West Nile virus (WNV) is spread through bites from infected mosquitoes. In a small percentage of cases, it can develop into serious encephalitis or meningitis, and death. The health warning also comes at a time when climate change protests were held Friday in Hamilton and around the world. Links have been made between climate change and increased insect-borne diseases like WNV in several studies, including a 2017 McMaster University student research project that ended up anticipating an increase based on climate change data.
Associate medical officer of health Dr. Ninh Tran said his office is unaware of Turek’s death, because it was not reported. The last reported Hamilton WNV death was in 2012.
Tran said 80 per cent of those infected have no symptoms, about 20 per cent have mild ones, and less than one per cent develop serious symptoms that can be life-threatening.
“It’s important to continue to highlight the risk ... of mosquitoes, because of West Nile and eastern equine encephalitis,” Tran said. “There’s always a chance of serious complications.”
People have to take precautions to avoid infections, he added.
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus — which also affects humans and is transmitted by mosquitoes — was recently found in a local horse. It’s the first time EEE has been reported in Hamilton, but there have been horse cases of WNV.
Tran said EEE is more serious than WNV, in that 30 per cent of humans infected experience serious complications or death. “The good thing is it’s rare.” The U.S. this year had 10 EEE human deaths. There’ve been no human cases in Canada. There are two vaccines against EEE, but just for horses.
No vaccines exist for WNV — although researchers are working on one, says Dr. Mark Loeb, an infectious diseases doctor, McMaster University professor and WNV researcher. Two of six candidate vaccines tested seem the most promising, but “we’re at very early stages” of development, he said.
In 2003, Loeb was one of the leads in the first study to track WNV in Canada. The study focused on the residents of south Oakville, who had the highest rates of confirmed cases in Canada in 2002.
Municipalities in WNV-prone areas conduct yearly larviciding in catch basins, city ponds and other areas with standing water to kill off mosquito larvae that breed in stagnant water.
Public health issues precautions each year when its mosquito pool traps test positive for WNV. These include warnings to apply mosquito repellent when heading outdoors.
Those most at risk of complications are anyone with compromised immune systems, says Loeb. Symptoms can include a stiff neck, severe headache, nausea and an extreme sensitivity to light. People may also feel confused or appear to be having a stroke.
Hamilton had six WNV cases last year and six in 2017; five in both 2016 and 2015, and none in 2014. The highest number since 2011 was 20 in 2012.