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Thursday, September 9, 2010

Canada : Two Saskatchewan men get West Nile; first human cases reported this year

A report from 570 News :

" REGINA : Two men in southeastern Saskatchewan are believed to be the first humans to be infected with West Nile virus in Canada this summer.

Provincial West Nile co-ordinator Phil Curry said Wednesday that the men, aged 45 to 55, had mild forms of the infection and are recovering in the Sun Country Health Region.

"Both of them were exposed to the virus through a mosquito bite in the first week or second week of August. That was a time when the West Nile risk was much higher," said Curry.

They are the first reported human cases of West Nile virus infection in Saskatchewan for 2010. Surveillance maps posted on the Public Health Agency of Canada's website indicate that as of Wednesday there have been no other human cases of West Nile this year across the country.

Saskatchewan health officials had warned residents in July to take extra precautions against mosquitoes because of wet weather across the southern half of the province this year. That made an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes."

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