By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Toronto health officials reported Tuesday the first human West Nile virus (WNV) case of 2019 in an adult resident.

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“As we head into late summer, we know that residents and visitors to Toronto are maximizing their time outside to enjoy the weather and outdoor activities. We encourage everyone to take the appropriate precautions to minimize the risk of exposure to West Nile virus through the bite of an infected mosquito”, said Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health.

Toronto Public Health notes that while the risk of getting infected in Toronto remains low, Toronto Public Health advises residents to take these precautions to avoid bites from infected mosquitoes:

• 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.

In 2018, 39 laboratory-confirmed human cases of West Nile virus were reported to health officials. Last year, Canada reported 427 human WNV cases.