Mosquitoes test positive for West Nile Virus in Toronto

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

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News Release:  August 12, 2014

Mosquitoes test positive for West Nile Virus in Toronto

Toronto Public Health (TPH) has received a lab report indicating mosquitoes in Toronto have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). This is the first positive test for WNV in Toronto for 2014.

"The positive test result is a good reminder for the public to protect themselves from mosquito bites and to remove standing water from property where mosquitoes can breed," said Elaine Pacheco, Healthy Environments Manager for Toronto Public Health.

Although the risk of becoming infected is low, everyone is urged to avoid mosquito bites by following these measures now and throughout the summer: 

● wear light coloured clothing, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, socks and a hat 

● use mosquito repellent approved by Health Canada and follow product instructions 

● avoid areas with large numbers of mosquitoes, especially during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, and 

● make sure your home has tight-fitting screens on windows and doors.

TPH has 43 mosquito traps throughout the city and submits mosquitoes for laboratory testing every week. As part of the City of Toronto's WNV mosquito reduction program, catch basins and other areas of standing water are treated with larvicide to reduce mosquito breeding.

In 2001, the WNV virus was first discovered in Toronto. In 2012, TPH reported100 positive mosquito pools and 94 human cases. In 2013, 18 positive mosquito pools and 12 human cases were reported. To date, no human cases of WNV have been reported to TPH in 2014.

More information is available at http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=cf72ebfc2bb31410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD or by calling 416-338-7600.

This news release is also available on the City's website: http://bit.ly/ViKiRY

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

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Media contact: Kris Scheuer, Toronto Public Health, 416-338-8020, kscheue@toronto.ca