Grand Erie Public Health says a Brant resident has tested positive for West Nile virus, the first local human case in five years.
Health officials warn that while most people bitten by an infected mosquito never develop symptoms, the virus can cause serious illness in older adults and those with underlying conditions.
“August and September are the peak months for West Nile virus activity in mosquitoes,” said Filip Pajtondziev, Manager of Infectious Diseases and Sexual Health at Grand Erie Public Health.
“The best protection is prevention, and we encourage everyone to take steps to avoid mosquito bites.”
This season, five mosquito pools in Brantford tested positive for the virus, four of them at the same site. The last human case in Brant was recorded in 2020, while Haldimand-Norfolk reported one in 2024.
Public health is urging residents to limit outdoor activity from dusk to dawn, wear long-sleeved clothing, remove standing water around homes, and use insect repellent containing DEET.
Grand Erie Public Health, created in January through the merger of the Brant and Haldimand-Norfolk health units, continues to track mosquito activity across the region.
More information is available at www.bchu.org/westnile or by calling 519-753-4937 ext. 454.
