Several more cases of West Nile virus confirmed in parts of Mississauga and Brampton

Mosquito testing has turned up several more confirmed cases of West Nile virus in Mississauga and Brampton and Peel Public Health wants residents to take precautions to avoid contracting the disease.

The Region of Peel said in an update on Monday that six mosquito traps in Mississauga and Brampton collected last week have tested positive for West Nile virus and follows similar alerts earlier in the month.

There are dozens of mosquito traps across the region monitored from June to September for West Nile virus, which can potentially spread to humans.

Only one of the traps that tested positive was found in Mississauga at Dixie Road and Lakeshore Road East, while the remaining five positive traps were collected at Cottrelle Boulevard and The Gore Road, Queen Street East and Kennedy Road North, Queen Street East and West Drive, Torbram Road and Bovaird Drive East, and Williams Parkway and Chinguacousy Road in Brampton.

While cases of humans contracting West Nile are low, the virus can be passed to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito.

Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash, and there are no vaccines to prevent contracting West Nile virus.

Here are some tips to help you avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes this summer:

• Wear a Health Canada approved insect repellent can help prevent mosquito bites, especially those containing an ingredient like DEET or icaridin.
• Use a mosquito net for babies or young children when outdoors, in a crib or stroller.
• Wear light-coloured, tightly woven, loose-fitting clothing such as long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, shoes, and socks to protect exposed skin.
• Avoid shaded or wooded areas with high mosquito populations and take extra precautions during dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
• Ensure all windows and door screens fit securely and are free of tears and holes.
• Remove or drain items on your property that hold stagnant water.

Water that is stagnant for more than seven days is an ideal breeding site for mosquitoes, the region said in a release. Residents in Mississauga and Brampton can report stagnant water sites to Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700, or toll-free at 905-584-2216 in Caledon.

The region reported its first positive West Nile virus test of the year in July near the intersection of Church Street and Centre Street in Brampton.

Peel Public Health treats regional catch basins and bodies of stagnant water with a larvicide to help reduce breeding and minimize mosquito populations.

For more information or to report a stagnant water site visit www.PeelRegion.ca/health/protecting/bugs/.