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Researchers at the University of Calgary say there are mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus in the city, and they\u2019re urging people to take precautions.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Primary Care Alberta confirms one travel-related case of West Nile virus has been reported in the province so far this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe already are seeing evidence of West Nile moving in our mosquito population, so that means there\u2019s a bit of a risk out there, \u201dsaid John Soghigian, an associate professor in the faculty of veterinary medicine at the University of Calgary.<\/p>\n
He works with the City of Calgary to monitor mosquito traps at five locations in the city and one on the outskirts.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is the earliest detection we\u2019ve seen in Calgary in recent years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to Soghigian, Calgary\u2019s first positive mosquito samples were collected at the end of June, and his team has continued to detect the virus around the city throughout July.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that West Nile is widely found throughout the city, and it seems to be circulating at a higher rate this year than past years.\u201d <\/p>\n
While there appears to be more of the virus circulating, he cautions it’s possible they didn’t detect it as well in previous years.<\/p>\n
He calls this an early warning sign that West Nile is out there and likely amplifying among bird populations.<\/p>\n
“What that means is other mosquitoes could become infected, who could then bite people and then that could lead to disease transmission,” he said.<\/p>\n
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Dr. John Soghigian is an associate professor in the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine. (Syed Rahil Tarique)Health impacts<\/p>\n
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada,<\/a> there is no specific treatment for West Nile virus, and up to 80 per cent of people infected will have no symptoms.<\/p>\n Mild symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, a mild rash and swollen lymph glands.<\/p>\n Initial symptoms tend to appear between two and 15 days after you’re infected.<\/p>\n People over the age of 50 and those with weakened immune systems are at the greatest risk of severe illness.<\/p>\n In rare cases, the virus can impact the brain and spinal cord, and there can be severe and permanent neurological complications including seizures, memory loss, brain damage and even death.<\/p>\n