A second mosquito trap has test positive for West Nile virus in Perth County.
Huron Perth Public Health says the trap in question was in the St. Marys area. It follows a positive test just last week in Mitchell.
In a release, Public Health Inspector Kaitlyn Kelly says "it's not surprising to see positive mosquito pools in the month of August."
Public health officials have been applying larvicide to roadside catch basins in Stratfored, St. Marys, Listowel and Mitchell this summer to help reduce mosquito breeding.
There have been no probable or confirmed human cases of West Nile virus in the province this year. About 1 in 150 people infected with the virus will get seriously ill, suffering a high fever, muscle weakness, vision loss and possibly coma. Not everyone who gets bitten by an infected mosquito will get sick and most who do will only experience mild illness.
You are urged to protect yourself from mosquito bites by using an insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin; wear light coloured clothes, long sleeves and pants when in areas where mosquito activity is high; you should also remove standing water from your home at least once a week to reduce mosquito breeding; and take extra precautions at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
