Health unit encourages residents to protect themselves against mosquito bites
By reporter Natalie Hamilton
Lakelands Public Health is reminding residents about the importance of emptying wheelbarrows and other items that hold standing water where mosquitoes like to breed after three mosquito pools tested positive for the West Nile virus in the region.
The health unit is encouraging residents to protect themselves against mosquito bites by eliminating breeding sites and regularly emptying out items on their property that hold water.
“There have been three mosquito pools that tested positive for the West Nile virus in the Lakelands Public Health region this season,” Bernard Mayer, environmental health manager for Lakelands Public Health, shared with the Independent.
“At this time, there have been no human cases of the West Nile virus reported in the Lakelands Public Health region in 2026,” he said.
Lakelands Public Health issued a press release recently advising residents that ongoing mosquito surveillance across the region has identified evidence of West Nile virus activity, including most recently mosquitoes testing positive for the virus in the Lindsay area.
While there have not been any human West Nile virus cases in the Lakelands region this year to date, “mosquito activity continues through late summer (and) residents are encouraged to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites,” noted officials.
The virus is spread primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Most people infected with the West Nile virus do not develop symptoms, according to the health unit. However, some people may experience mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or a skin rash. In rare cases, severe illness affecting the brain or nervous system can occur, with older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems at greater risk, noted health unit staff.
“Lakelands Public Health continues to monitor mosquito activity across the region through regular trapping and testing,” stated Anne Marie Holt, director of health protection with Lakelands Public Health. “The identification of positive mosquito pools serves as an important reminder that residents should take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites and reduce mosquito breeding sites around their homes.”
Lakelands Public Health encourages residents to take precautions, such as dressing appropriately. This includes wearing long sleeves, long pants, socks and light-coloured clothing when outdoors, especially between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
The health unit also advises residents to use an insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin and to follow the manufacturer’s directions. Residents should ensure their window and door screens fit tightly and are in good repair to prevent mosquitoes from entering their homes, added public health.
People should also be proactive by cleaning up their yards, the health unit stated.
This includes removing standing water from items including bird baths, flowerpots, buckets, wheelbarrows, old tires, tarps and toys. The health unit recommends cleaning eavestroughs regularly to prevent water accumulation. Residents should also remove thick brush and keep grass and vegetation trimmed.
“While mosquito surveillance helps us understand local West Nile virus activity, a negative trap result does not mean the virus is absent from a community,” added Holt. “Everyone should continue taking preventive measures throughout the mosquito season.”
For more information about West Nile virus, mosquito bite prevention and reducing mosquito breeding sites, visit LakelandsPH.ca/WNV.
Lakelands Public Health is the public health agency that serves Alderville, Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations, the urban Indigenous community, and the counties of Haliburton and Northumberland, as well as the cities of Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough and the County of Peterborough. It was established through the voluntary merger of the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Peterborough Public Health.
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