Calgary & West Nile: early detection during wet & warm summer
Researchers in Calgary have detected the West Nile virus in mosquitoes earlier than in previous years, following a wet and warm summer. Experts advise residents to take precautions such as wearing protective clothing and using insect repellent to avoid infection.
Why it matters
Early detection of vector-borne diseases is critical for public health management and preventing outbreaks of neurological illness.
Researchers with the University of Calgary say they collected the city’s first West Nile-positive mosquito sample at the end of June, which is the earliest detection of the virus in the last few years.
Experts also say heavy rainfall in Calgary this year has led to a steep increase in mosquitoes found in traps compared to June and July last year.
The positive West Nile sample came from the northern house mosquito; an invasive species which was first detected in Calgary in 2022.
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