1st human case of West Nile confirmed in Hamilton

The city is urging residents to take precautions afterconfirmingthe year's first local human case of West Nile Virus.

The medical officer of health has upgraded therisk of catching the virusfrom moderate to high.

Applying insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin, covering up andremovingstanding water on your property to prevent mosquito breeding can help prevent the virus from spreading, the city advises.

"The risk of West Nile virus will drop once there is a heavy frost that reduces the number of mosquitoes," Dr. Bart Harvey, a public health physician said in the statement issued by the city.

Symptoms, includingfever and - in more severe cases - inflammation of the brain,show uptwo to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

But about 80 per cent of people who contract West Nile never experience any symptoms, the statement adds.

The city upgraded the risk meter from low to moderate early July after abatch of mosquitoes tested positive for the virus.

The city says it conducts ongoing larviciding treatments on city street catch basins as well as surface waters treatments on public land.