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Ottawa Public Health says it has confirmed West Nile Virus in the local mosquito population for the first time this year.
So far, there have been no confirmed or probable human cases in Ottawa, and just two this year in Ontario, as of July 26, the health unit said in a news release Friday.
The virus is asymptomatic in most human cases, but about one in five people who get infected experience flu-like symptoms such as a fever, headache, muscle aches and possibly a rash that usually appears two to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
In very rare cases, West Nile can lead to serious neurological disease, with the risk increasing with age.
OPH recommends eliminating standing water from around the home, since mosquitoes use it to breed. The health unit also says people should take precautions to avoid being bitten, like covering up with long clothing when outside and using insect repellant.