A pool of mosquitoes in southern Saskatchewan tested positive for west Nile Virus.
The sample was taken in the Sun Country Health Region, an area that typically has the first samples of West Nile positive mosquitoes.
“That’s indicative that the West Nile risk is starting,” said Phillip Curry, the West Nile Coordinator for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health.
Curry said positive samples in the south east usually mean that the rest of the province will see the Culex tarsalis species (the mosquito species that carries the virus) within a week.
Typically, the virus-carrying mosquito is more active in the evening and throughout the night than the regular nuisance blood-suckers. Curry said it’s best to minimize the risk of infection by wearing light layers in the evening and spraying repellent.
While the risk of contracting the virus is now higher than earlier in the summer, Curry said it doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t enjoy the remainder of the sunny season.
“By all means, go out and enjoy the weather,” he said. “Just be mindful that there are these mosquito coming out in southern Saskatchewan and in all of agricultural Saskatchewan.”
Last summer, the four people were diagnosed with the West Nile Virus. There have been no positive cases yet this year.
