The city is urging Hamiltonians to remove standing water from private property to avoid mosquito breeding and protect themselves from bites. Dr. Bart Harvey, associate medical officer of health, recommended using simple preventative measures such as using insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin and covering up to reduce the risk of mosquito bites “while enjoying the outdoors.” “It is important to take precautions to avoid insect-borne diseases such as West Nile virus, Lyme disease and eastern equine encephalitis,” he said in a release. “The risk of these infections will decrease once there is a big frost that reduces mosquito numbers.” The city said four out of five people with West Nile virus will have no symptoms. However, the elderly and those with weaker immunity may develop West Nile fever or develop more serious illness, including inflammation of the brain. Symptoms appear between two and 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The city said it is continually assessing the risk for human disease as part of its comprehensive West Nile virus surveillance and prevention program and is completing its third round of nymphicide treatments in the city’s catch basins. SHARE:
