Altona and Winnipeg have discovered mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus in their areas. Dr. Michael Routledge, Southern Health-Santé Sud Medical Officer of Health, says ways you can help reduce the risk of contracting the virus include...

"Eliminating the amount of time you're outside during peak mosquito hours -- those hours are at dusk and dawn, using mosquito repellent if you're going to be exposed to mosquitoes, and doing things to mosquito-proof your indoor spaces around screens and doors and making sure those things are tight," says Routledge. "And make sure you reduce the amount of standing water you've got on your property because that's where mosquitoes like to breed."

He explains infection from the virus doesn't accompany very many symptoms. Routledge says most who contract the virus don't even know they have it. Severe cases may accompany muscle aches and fever and can cause brain and spinal cord inflammation. Such victims can develop things like encephalitis, which is basically an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. You can get some weakness, muscle paralysis -- and they usually resolve those kinds of things. He notes more severe cases tend to occur in people who already have underlying medical conditions and are immune-compromised for some reason.

Routledge adds last year saw ten cases in our region out of 24 throughout the province, noting the reported number of cases has been decreasing through the years.

The future is not known for the virus, but the general trend has been a decrease. He says people have always failed to report infection due to the lack of symptoms. Routledge says the bottom line is that the virus is here, and people need to take precautions.