MISSISSAUGA, ON (September 8, 2017) – Peel Public Health has identified its first human case of West Nile virus for 2017.
“This case reinforces the need for all residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites,” says Paul Callanan, Director of Health Protection at the Region of Peel. “Most people who contract the disease will show no symptoms, but 20 per cent will experience mild flu–like symptoms, and about one in 150 people will develop a more severe form of the disease.”
Residents are encouraged to protect themselves from mosquito bites by doing the following:
Avoid areas with high mosquito populations and take extra precautions at dusk and dawn when mosquito activity is highest.
Wear light–coloured clothing that covers exposed skin, such as long sleeves, pants and a hat.
Use an insect repellent containing DEET and apply it according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Remove or drain items on your property that hold stagnant water. Water that is stagnant for more than seven days is an ideal breeding site for mosquitoes. You can report stagnant water sites to Peel Public Health at 905–799–7700 or online at peel-bugbite.ca.
Register online at peel-bugbite.ca to receive email notifications and information about where mosquitos that have tested positive for West Nile virus found in Peel.
For more information about West Nile virus, visit peel-bugbite.ca or call Region of Peel – Public Health at 905–799–7700 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Caledon residents can call toll free at 905–584–2216.
The Regional Municipality of Peel was incorporated in 1974 on the principle that certain community and infrastructure services are most cost–effectively administered over a larger geographic area. The Region of Peel serves more than one million residents in the cities of Mississauga and Brampton and the town of Caledon.