

Rachael D'Amore, CTV News Toronto





Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus have been found in Toronto for the first time this year.

Toronto Public Health confirmed the positive test results in a news release Thursday.

"While the risk of becoming infected with West Nile Virus in Toronto is low, now is a good time to remind residents of the ways they can protect themselves from mosquito bites and help reduce the risk of infection," Dr. Eileen de Villa, the city’s medical officer of health, said in the release.

Public health officials say residents can prevent infection by wearing insect repellent, wearing light-coloured, long-sleeved clothing while outdoors and removing standing water.

Residents are also encouraged to take extra caution during dusk and dawn, which is considered “peak mosquito biting time,” officials say.

The tests are conducted once a week from mid-June until mid-September as part of the city’s West Nile Virus mosquito reduction program. Samples are taken from 40 mosquito traps set up across the city and handed to a laboratory for testing.

Last week, health officials in Peel Region confirmed that a mosquito trap in Mississauga had tested positive for the virus.

They too assured residents that the risk of catching West Nile is low, but suggested that this year’s unusually wet weather has created ideal breeding grounds for mosquitos, so caution is required.

There have been no confirmed human cases of the virus reported in Toronto, Mississauga or Ontario this year.

In 2016, there were 19 human cases of the West Nile Virus in Toronto and 38 positive test results from mosquito traps in the city.