WNV – West Nile Virus – MSSS Recommendations
We have regrouped the recommendations and symptoms informed by the Ministry of Health and Social Services in this article.
Measures to be adopted to avoid mosquitoes
Standing water, or water that is stagnant, is the ideal setting for the reproduction of mosquitoes that may carry WNV. To reduce the number of mosquitoes, eliminate standing water and keep your surroundings clean.
People at risk
People aged 50 and over, those who have a weakened immune system and those suffering from chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, have a higher risk of developing the severe form of WNV.
In most cases (80%), people infected with WNV do not have symptoms.
However, some individuals may develop symptoms. They appear from 2 to 14 days after being bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus. The severity of WNV infections varies. The most frequent benign symptoms are :
- Muscle pain
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Skin rashes with pimples
- Swollen lymph nodes
Less than 1% of people infected with WNV will develop a severe form of the disease resulting in neurological disorders. Meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain) and encephalitis (brain inflammation) are examples and may be manifested by the following symptoms:
- Intense or unusual headaches
- High fever
- Stiff neck
- Nausea or vomiting
- Confusion or disorientation
- Loss of consciousness and convulsions
- Coordination disorders
- Muscle weakness
Advice to the population
The government of Quebec is deploying means to make the population aware of the presence of WNV in Quebec. Specific efforts target those most likely to develop the severe form of the disease, namely people 50 years of age and over and those with chronic illness or weakened immune systems. The objective is to inform them of the measures to be adopted to prevent mosquito bites and to reduce the number of mosquitoes in the environment.