Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) is reminding residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites after the first locally acquired human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) was confirmed in the region this year.
Dr. Lauren Hayward, physician consultant at HPPH, said the overall risk to the public remains low, but activity usually increases in late summer and early fall. She encourages residents to take extra care, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active, by using insect repellent and wearing long sleeves and pants.
So far in 2025, Public Health Ontario has confirmed 61 human cases of West Nile Virus across the province. Not everyone bitten by an infected mosquito will show symptoms, but those who do often experience fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, or a rash.
Health officials remind residents that they can lower their risk by wearing protective clothing, using insect repellent, avoiding mosquito-heavy areas at dawn and dusk, and removing standing water around their homes each week to reduce breeding spots.
