Mosquitoes from a trap in southern Bruce County have tested positive for West Nile virus.
Grey Bruce Public Health says it was notified this week about the positive test result from a mosquito pool collected in Brockton. It’s the first mosquito trap to produce a positive West Nile test in the Grey Bruce region this year.
According to Public Health, West Nile circulates between birds and some species of mosquitoes. It can be trasmitted to humans by a mosquito bite, if the mosquito has first acquired West Nile from an infected bird.
Public Health says most people infected with West Nile get no symptoms or mild ones like headaches or fever, but it can be more serious in rare cases.
“The risk of contracting (West Nile) from an infected mosquito is very low, but is usually highest in late summer; towards the end of the mosquito season,” Grey Bruce Public Health says in a statement.
Grey Bruce hasn’t had a lab confirmed case of West Nile virus in a human since 2018. Across Ontario, 33 people have tested positive this year.
