As we enjoy the pleasant summer weather, we run the risk of unhealthy encounters with insects. Although blackflies, wasps and ants can be a nuisance, it’s the insects that carry the potential for dangerous disease that are especially worrisome.
Some mosquitos, for instance, now carry the West Nile virus, which can develop into a potentially debilitating and sometimes fatal illness. Although it is unclear how this virus arrived here, the first outbreak of West Nile on this continent was in the summer of 1999 in New York City. Canada had its first confirmed cases in humans in 2002, when more than 300 people from Quebec and Ontario tested positive.
The virus, which is transmitted to mosquitoes from infected birds, is monitored closely in Canada by tracking the incidence in mosquitoes themselves, along with birds, horses (which are particularly susceptible to the virus) and humans.
The chances of getting West Nile are low. Last year, there were only 450 confirmed cases of the disease in Canada, and numbers have varied over the years. The worst year for West Nile on record in Canada was 2007, when 2,215 people were infected.
In most cases, the disease goes unnoticed or is mistaken for a mild flu. But for the unlucky few, the virus can cause severe illness, such as meningitis or encephalitis, that requires hospitalization. The disease can be fatal for 4%-14% of those infected, and the hardest hit are the elderly or those suffering with other medical conditions.
There are regional mosquito-spraying programs to lower the incidence of the West Nile virus, but you also can take action by avoiding getting mosquito bites. Health Canada recommends the use of insect repellant with DEET and wearing light-coloured clothing. It’s also a good idea to cover up with pants, long-sleeved shirts and socks during times of higher mosquito activity – usually at dawn and dusk, although mosquitos can be active anytime on a cloudy day or near still water.
There is no specific treatment or cure for the West Nile virus, although scientists are working on a vaccine.
Preventing tick bites, which can result in Lyme disease, is another important summer concern. Lyme disease, caused by a bacterium spread through two types of blacklegged ticks, has three stages. The first is a distinctive circular rash (which doesn’t always appear) at the site of the tick bite. The second stage is flu-like symptoms. If left untreated, these symptoms can be followed by several months or even years of extreme fatigue, disorders of the central nervous system and arthritis.
The ticks responsible for this disease are endemic to several areas in British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. That doesn’t mean someone outside these regions has no worries; blacklegged ticks regularly hitch a ride on birds to get to other parts of Canada.
You can protect against ticks as you would against mosquitoes, with the extra step of inspecting yourself and your pets after spending time anywhere small woodland creatures, which pass on the disease to ticks, live. If you find a tick on your skin, remove it with tweezers as close to the skin as possible (its head is likely to be partly buried in the skin) without twisting it or crushing it. Save the tick in a plastic bag marked with the date to take to your doctor if symptoms develop.
A range of antibiotics can be used to fight the disease and are more effective when used during the earlier stages of the disease. So, if you suspect you might have been infected, see a doctor.
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