Peterborough Public Health is reminding area residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites after a horse tested positive for equine encephalitis last week.
Eastern equine encephalitis virus is transmitted to horses through mosquito bites. Like West Nile virus, it can also be transmitted to humans through mosquitoes carrying the virus.
This is the first confirmed case of equine encephalitis in the Peterborough region and the sixth confirmed in Ontario this year.
Humans cannot get equine encephalitis from horses or from other humans — only the bite of an infected mosquito that can transmit the disease to humans.
While human infection with the equine encephalitis virus is extremely rare, the symptoms can be severe and life threatening. The best way to prevent an infection is to prevent mosquito bites.
Although the summer months are behind us, you can skill encounter mosquitoes during September, especially during hot weather. To prevent mosquito bites, wear long-sleeved and light-coloured clothing, use mesh screens and close routes of entry to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home, stay indoors during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, use insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin, and remove sources of stagnant or standing water from your property to prevent mosquito breeding.
