West Nile Virus and other Mosquito-Borne Diseases Surveillance in Canada: Annual edition 2020 (infographic)

What is the risk

• West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of domestically acquired mosquito-borne diseases (MBD) in Canada

Who's at greater risk

• Advanced age and people with underlying medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, cancer, heart disease) are at increased risk of WNV neurological syndrome

How to manage

• There is no specific treatment or vaccine for WNV
• Patients are treated for their symptoms

West Nile virus reported in 2020

• 41 positive dead wild birds
• 205 positive mosquito pools
• 6 positive horses
• 163 human cases acquired within Canada
• 153 clinical cases, 7 deaths
• 56 cases with neurological syndrome
• 51 cases with non-neurological syndrome
• 46 cases not specified
• 10 asymptomatic cases
• 3 travel-related human cases acquired outside of Canada or travel location not specified
• When compared to the average of the previous 5 years, a lower number of human cases was observed in 2020
• Recurring fluctuations in the number of WNV human infections from year to year are expected

Other MBDs

• 13 human infections of California serogroup viruses: 2 reported by the National Microbiology Laboratory and 11 by Quebec
• 8 horses tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis virus

Public health recommendations

Avoid becoming infected with WNV and other mosquito-borne diseases by:

• Protecting yourself
• cover exposed skin
• use insect repellent with DEET or Icaridin
• Reducing surrounding risk
• eliminate standing water
• maintain window and door screening