West Nile virus detected in Calgary mosquitoes earlier than usual this year
Health officials in Calgary have detected West Nile virus in local mosquito populations earlier than in previous years. Experts warn that the virus is circulating at higher rates, increasing the risk of transmission to humans.
Why it matters
Early detection of vector-borne diseases is essential for public health preparedness and minimizing the risk of severe neurological illness in vulnerable populations.
At the same time, Primary Care Alberta confirms one travel-related case of West Nile virus has been reported in the province so far this year.
“We already are seeing evidence of West Nile moving in our mosquito population, so that means there’s a bit of a risk out there, ”said John Soghigian, an associate professor in the faculty of veterinary medicine at the University of Calgary.
He works with the City of Calgary to monitor mosquito traps at five locations in the city and one on the outskirts.
“It is the earliest detection we’ve seen in Calgary in recent years,” he said.
According to Soghigian, Calgary’s first positive mosquito samples were collected at the end of June, and his team has continued to detect the virus around the city throughout July.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in