The West Nile Virus has made its way back to Chatham-Kent.
But so far, the virus' presence in the municipality this season is limited to mosquitoes.
The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit said it has received laboratory confirmation that mosquitoes that were collected on July 30 from a trap in Ridgetown and a tape in Southeast Chatham tested positive for the West Nile Virus.
CK public health officials are reminding the public that the virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito and that many people infected with the virus experience no symptoms at all.
In some cases, people who are infected will experience mild symptoms like fever, headache, body aches, and fatigue. In rare cases, infected individuals may experience more serious symptoms like severe illness, nausea, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, and paralysis.
Older individuals and those with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk of developing severe symptoms.
You can protect yourself by eliminating standing water on your property, by covering up with light-coloured clothing when you are outside, and by using insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin.
Mosquitoes are also most active from dusk to dawn.
