The West Nile virus made a resurgence in 2011 compared to 2010.
Grey Bruce Health Unit Program Manager Angela Newman says there have been 14 probable and confirmed human cases in Ontario this year, but none have come from residents in Grey Bruce.
Just recently, the West Nile virus has been confirmed in a person in the Belleville area.
And already in 2011, West Nile virus has been detected in 200 ‘pools’, or batches, of mosquitoes tested by other Ontario health units, including in Peterborough City-County, Durham Region and Hastings-Prince Edward counties.
During all of 2010, only 56 mosquito ‘pools’ were found to be positive for West Nile virus across Ontario.
Newman says you still have to take precautions against mosquitoes, which spread the virus from infected birds to people.
Newman says since we had such a hot July the cases increased over late August, early September, but she says the cooler Fall air should help decrease those numbers.
