People are being encouraged to be vigilant when it comes to protecting themselves from mosquito bites.

So far this year there have been two potential human cases of West Nile Virus is the Prairie Mountain Health region. Health officials say there is usually a gap between the time of exposure and the time of diagnosis and the reporting of the diagnosis.

Dr. Mahmoud Khodaveisi is Medical Officer of Health for Prairie Mountain and he says in 2017 there were two confirmed cases. “The risk of West Nile Virus varies from year to year and is influenced by many factors such as temperature and the mosquito population.”

He adds the highest risk for being bitten by an infected mosquito is in the months of July, August and September.

“The number of West Nile Virus mosquitoes collected increased compared to last year. The positive pools have been collected for Prairie Mountain have been mostly from Killarney, Boissevain and Virden.”

About 80 per cent of those people infected with the virus show no symptoms. The other 20 per cent show signs like mild flu like symptoms like fever, a headache and muscle ache. About one per cent of the people infected will experience more severe illnesses impacting things like the central nervous system.

There is no vaccine and the more serious cases are treated with supportive care in the hospital.

“The best thing to do is avoid mosquito bites. Minimize time outdoors from dusk to dawn. If you go outside wear light coloured protective clothes with long sleeve shirts and pants. Make sure you use insect repellent.”