Canada: Alberta Health officials warn of West Nile Virus epidemic
Pastor Dale Morgan
Canada: Alberta Health officials warn of West Nile Virus epidemic
Prime time for the West Nile virus in Alberta is July and August
EDMONTON - With prime West Nile virus season just around the corner, Alberta Health Services has started urging people to protect themselves.
“Prevention is far better than cure with this disease,” said Gloria Keays, Edmonton associate medical officer with Alberta Health Services.
Mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus are most numerous during the months of July and August.
The province has not reported any cases of the virus this year. Of last year’s five reported cases in Canada, one was in Alberta.
It’s a sharp contrast to the 320 reported cases in 2007, where two resulted in deaths.
Edmontonians accounted for nine of the reported cases in 2007, and one in 2008. In every case, Keays said, people contracted the virus elsewhere.
“This virus is really driven by the climate, and the climate in Edmonton doesn’t help the West Nile out the way the climate in southern Alberta does,” Keays said. “But we can’t say it doesn’t happen (in Edmonton).”
The city uses traps to track mosquito activity on a weekly basis. City of Edmonton biological science technician Mike Jenkins said the last time the city identified West Nile was August 2010 — and it was only one mosquito.
Culex tarsalis mosquitoes, the species that carry the virus, prefer still and shallow bodies of water and hot weather. In the past few years, the province has not been consistently warm enough to help spread of this type of mosquito, according to the province’s health services.
Despite the province’s low number of West Nile cases, Keays said Albertans should protect themselves.
“Don’t forget about (West Nile), use precautions and have a great Canada Day weekend. But bring your DEET with you.”
The most common symptoms of the West Nile virus include fever, chills, nausea, and extreme headaches. Currently there is no specific treatment, medication or cure.