Canada - West Nile Virus 2020 - 86 cases and 3 fatalities

[Gert van der Hoek]

Eastern Ontario reports summer's first human case of West Nile

Publishing date: Aug 20, 2020

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit has confirmed the summer’s first human case of West Nile virus in the region.

While there have been no pools of virus-carrying mosquitoes detected in the EOHU (roughly from Cornwall in the sough up to the Hawkesbury area), the new case shows the virus is present.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

West Nile virus weekly surveillance and monitoring

Summary of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases

Latest analysis: July 19 to July 25, 2020 (Week 30)

• West Nile virus in Canada:
  • As of July 25, 2020 one human case has been reported to PHAC.
  • Two WNV-positive birds and 0 positive horses have been reported to PHAC.
  • A total of 7618 mosquito pools were tested for WNV in four provinces: Saskatchewan (5), Manitoba (610), Ontario (5368) and Qu?bec (1635). Of these, 11 WNV-positive mosquito pools have been reported to PHAC.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Toronto confirms 1st human case of West Nile virus in 2020

Toronto had 9 lab-confirmed cases of West Nile virus last year

Aug 25, 2020

Health authorities in Toronto have recorded the first case of the West Nile virus in a resident so far this year, the city says.

The laboratory-confirmed infection is in an adult, Toronto Public Health (TPH) said in a news release Tuesday.

West Nile virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito.

It is the second instance of the virus being found in the GTA in 2020. York Region officials found an affected mosquito in Markham earlier this month.

The risk of contracting the virus in Toronto remains low, the release added.

TPH recommends residents take the following steps to avoid being bitten by an infected mosquito:

• Wear light-coloured clothing, long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors.
• Apply insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
• Take extra care during peak mosquito-biting hours, dusk and dawn, by using repellent and covering up.
• Make sure your home has tight-fitting screens on windows and doors.
• Remove standing water from your property, where mosquitoes can breed. Standing water includes any water that collects in items such as buckets, planters, toys and waste containers.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Resident in Prince Edward County tests positive for West Nile virus

The first direct evidence of West Nile virus in the region has been found in a resident of Prince Edward County.

“In response, (Hastings-Prince Edward Public Health) is applying larvicide within select locations of Hastings and Prince Edward Counties until September 7, 2020,” the health unit says in a statement to the MyBancroftNow.com newsroom. “This mosquito larvae control measure is being conducted under the authority of the Acting Medical Officer of Health to prevent the development of mosquitoes into vectors of WNv. The pellet formulation of the larvicide Methoprene (PCP number 21809) will be placed into catch basins that contain standing water. All larvicide will be applied by technicians trained by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.”

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Windsor-Essex resident tests positive for West Nile Virus

Published Monday, August 31, 2020

WINDSOR, ONT. -- The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has reported the first local human case of West Nile Virus.

In a news release issued Monday, the health unit states a Windsor-Essex resident has tested positive for the virus, marking the first clinically diagnosed and lab-confirmed case for the region this year.

"The mosquito species capable of spreading WNV have been identified throughout WEC through the health unit's surveillance program,” said Dr. Wajid Ahmed, Windsor-Essex medical officer of health. “This positive human case is a reminder for residents to continue to protect themselves from exposure while enjoying the outdoors. It is also important to remove any standing water around homes and businesses."

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

West Nile virus weekly surveillance and monitoring

Summary of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases

Latest analysis: July 26 to August 15, 2020 (Week 31, 32 and 33)

• West Nile virus in Canada:
  • As of August 15, 2020 two human cases have been reported to PHAC.
  • Eight WNV-positive birds and 0 positive horses have been reported to PHAC.
  • A total of 11764 mosquito pools were tested for WNV in four provinces: Saskatchewan (24), Manitoba (1027), Ontario (8374) and Qu?bec (2339). Of these, 99 WNV-positive mosquito pools have been reported to PHAC.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Hamilton’s first human case of West Nile virus for 2020 reported

September 10, 2020

Hamilton is reporting its first human case of West Nile virus this year.

That has prompted the city’s Medical Officer of Health to elevate the local West Nile virus risk from moderate to high.

Residents are being reminded to protect themselves against mosquito bites and to remove standing water from their property to prevent breeding.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

West Nile virus weekly surveillance and monitoring

Summary of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases

Latest analysis: August 16 to August 29, 2020 (Week 34 and 35)

• West Nile virus in Canada:
• • As of August 29, 2020 twenty-two human cases have been reported to PHAC.
  • Eleven WNV-positive birds and one positive horses have been reported to PHAC.
  • A total of 12926 mosquito pools were tested for WNV in four provinces: Saskatchewan (71), Manitoba (1236), Ontario (10456) and Qu?bec (1163). Of these, 164 WNV-positive mosquito pools have been reported to PHAC.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Burlington resident tests positive for West Nile virus

Sep 15, 2020

Health officials say a Burlington resident has tested positive for West Nile virus.

It's the third case in the Halton Region this year. The first two cases were people living in Oakville, according to a media release from the municipality.

Now community members are being asked to avoid wooded or garden areas where mosquitos might be, to cover up with light-coloured clothing and to empty the water in bird baths at least once each week.

"Until the fall frost, residents should keep using bug spray, remove standing water and avoid areas where mosquitos are present," said Halton Region medical officer of health Dr. Hamidah Meghani.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Lambton County reports its first human case of West Nile Virus of 2020

23 09 2020

A resident of Lambton County has been diagnosed with West Nile Virus, marking the region's first human case of 2020.

"The confirmed human case is a reminder for Lambton residents to remain vigilant and take precautions to prevent exposure to mosquitoes and to eliminate mosquito breeding sites on their property," a statement from Lambton Public Health said Wednesday.

The public health department said it had first confirmed West Nile Virus in mosquito pools in Petrolia and Oil Springs in August.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

West Nile virus weekly surveillance and monitoring


Summary of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases

Latest analysis: August 30 to September 12, 2020 (Week 36 and 37)

• West Nile virus in Canada:
  • As of September 12, 2020 thirty-four human cases have been reported to PHAC.
  • Twenty-six WNV-positive birds and five positive horses have been reported to PHAC.
  • A total of 14,268 mosquito pools were tested for WNV in four provinces: Saskatchewan (71), Manitoba (1,264), Ontario (11,770) and Quebec (1,163). Of these, 183 WNV-positive mosquito pools have been reported to PHAC.
• Other mosquito-borne diseases of interest:
  • No human cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV) have been reported to PHAC. Two positive horses have been reported to PHAC.
  • No human cases / exposures of California serogroup (CSG) virus have been reported.

Read Full Report

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Summary of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases

Latest analysis: September 13 to September 26, 2020 (Week 38 and 39)

• West Nile virus in Canada:
  • As of September 26, 2020 sixty-one human cases have been reported to PHAC. Of these, there are three deaths reported.
  • Thirty-eight WNV-positive wild birds and six positive horses have been reported to PHAC.
  • A total of 15,602 mosquito pools were tested for WNV in four provinces: Saskatchewan (71), Manitoba (1,264), Ontario (12,836) and Qu?bec (1,431). Of these, 198 WNV-positive mosquito pools have been reported to PHAC.

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

West Nile virus weekly surveillance and monitoring

Summary of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases

Latest analysis: September 27 to October 24, 2020 (Week 40, 41, 42 and 43)

• West Nile virus in Canada:
  • As of October 24, 2020 eighty-six human cases have been reported to PHAC. Of these, there are three deaths reported.
  • Forty WNV-positive wild birds and six positive horses have been reported to PHAC.
  • A total of 15,945 mosquito pools were tested for WNV in four provinces: Saskatchewan (71), Manitoba (1,264), Ontario (13,179) and Qu?bec (1,431). Of these, 198 WNV-positive mosquito pools have been reported to PHAC.