**PORCUPINE HEALTH UNIT NEWS RELEASE**

The Porcupine Health Unit has been notified that an owl has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNv). Although the risk to the public is low at this time of year, the Porcupine Health Unit felt it was important to share the result and will continue to monitor for WNv in the 2020 season.

“Health Unit staff actively monitor West Nile virus in mosquitoes in various locations within our district from June to August and the risk of acquiring West Nile virus during seasonal weather remains low,” says Kaitlin McCaw, Public Health Inspector at the Porcupine Health Unit.

This owl is the first report of a bird found locally to test positive for the virus within the Porcupine Health Unit district since 2006. Monitored mosquito pools have been WNv negative since 2006 and there have been no confirmed human cases of WNv reported in the district.

According to McCaw, the virus is spread to humans and animals by the bite of an infected mosquito but being bitten by an infected mosquito will not necessarily cause symptoms. While the majority of people (80%) who become infected with West Nile Virus do not become ill, those who do usually experience mild flu-like symptoms. McCaw adds that, “Less than 1% of people infected with the virus become seriously ill. We recommended that you seek medical attention if feeling unwell.”

McCaw concluded by saying that the Porcupine Health unit will be providing more WNv prevention tips in the spring and summer months when mosquitoes are active as part of the vector-borne disease program at the health unit.

Filed under: Local News