The risk of infection of the West Nile virus has escalated to moderate in the Heartland and Five Hills heath regions, but the possibility of the risk increasing to severe is high.

Dr. David Torr, consulting medical health officer for Heartland Health Region, said this is the peak season for contracting the virus in the region because the migrating birds that bring in West Nile are in the area, the Culex tarsalis mosquitoes are here in high numbers and there are more people active outdoors during August. He said there have been no cases of the West Nile virus reported in humans yet, but if people do not take precautions that is going to change.

“We identified (West Nile) in the birds and the mosquitoes are around and are biting or will have bitten infected birds and that will lead to human infections,” said Torr. “As much as we haven’t seen (human cases) we are expecting them. We are hoping that if people take the appropriate precautions that we will see much less or much fewer cases.”

Torr said people need to wear protective clothing, use insect repellent containing DEET, clean and empty containers that collect water and keep screens on windows and doors in good shape. He said reducing time outdoors between dusk and dawn is also important because the Culex tarsalis mosquito that transmits the virus is an evening and morning biter.

“The Culex tarsalis requires some warmth, but it doesn’t like the mid-day heat,” he said. “It’s rare that you’ll be bitten by it in the mid-day sun although it can happen in shady areas. The other mosquitoes, the nuisance mosquitoes, come all the time (and) anytime, but they are not responsible for spreading the virus.”

To read more please see the Aug. 12 print edition of The Davidson Leader.