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Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/west-nile-quebec-spreading-1.4848897
Quebec may see record-breaking number of West Nile virus infections in 2018
The mosquito-borne virus has killed 4 Quebecers this year but may have infected 150, specialist says
Isaac Olson
CBC News ? Posted: Oct 03, 2018 7:19 PM ET | Last Updated: October 3
Sylvie Bellemare died last month after being bitten by a mosquito in Sainte-Julie on Montreal's South Shore.
She was in good shape on a Monday, but by that Friday she was in intensive care ? ultimately becoming one of four people confirmed to have lost their lives to the West Nile virus in Quebec this year.
"In less than 24 hours, she was in a coma, and then the diagnosis was encephalitis," recalls her sister, Nathalie Bellemare, who wants people to be better informed about the virus and its risks.
Another sister, Jos?e Bellemare, said her hope faded for Sylvie once she learned it was West Nile.
"It's hard to have doctors who are helpless. They would like to help us, but there is nothing to do," she told Radio-Canada. "Vaccines: there are none. Remedies: there are none."
Highest infection rate since 2012
Now, with the cold having chased away the last of the mosquitoes, Quebec public health authorities are tallying up the final number of confirmed West Nile infections across the province. It appears 2018 will be a record-breaking year...
Quebec may see record-breaking number of West Nile virus infections in 2018
The mosquito-borne virus has killed 4 Quebecers this year but may have infected 150, specialist says
Isaac Olson
CBC News ? Posted: Oct 03, 2018 7:19 PM ET | Last Updated: October 3
Sylvie Bellemare died last month after being bitten by a mosquito in Sainte-Julie on Montreal's South Shore.
She was in good shape on a Monday, but by that Friday she was in intensive care ? ultimately becoming one of four people confirmed to have lost their lives to the West Nile virus in Quebec this year.
"In less than 24 hours, she was in a coma, and then the diagnosis was encephalitis," recalls her sister, Nathalie Bellemare, who wants people to be better informed about the virus and its risks.
Another sister, Jos?e Bellemare, said her hope faded for Sylvie once she learned it was West Nile.
"It's hard to have doctors who are helpless. They would like to help us, but there is nothing to do," she told Radio-Canada. "Vaccines: there are none. Remedies: there are none."
Highest infection rate since 2012
Now, with the cold having chased away the last of the mosquitoes, Quebec public health authorities are tallying up the final number of confirmed West Nile infections across the province. It appears 2018 will be a record-breaking year...