West Nile virus confirmed in Toronto, Canada’s 1st human case this year
Global News
The confirmation by PHAC comes after Toronto Public Health said its first laboratory-confirmed case of the virus in 2025 is an adult resident of the city with no travel history.
The Public Health Agency of Canada says this year’s first human case of West Nile virus acquired within the country has been confirmed in Toronto.
The confirmation comes after Toronto Public Health said its first laboratory-confirmed case of the virus in 2025 is an adult resident of the city with no travel history.
The virus is transmitted to humans through infected mosquitoes.
PHAC’s West Nile surveillance report says that as of July 12, two other Canadian residents were infected this year while travelling outside of the country.
Its surveillance map shows West Nile detections in two mosquito pools in Ontario and one in Manitoba as of that date.
Toronto Public Health says symptoms usually begin between two to 14 days after a mosquito bite and can include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, body aches, skin rash, swollen lymph glands or a stiff neck.
It says older adults and people with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of severe illness.
People can prevent infection by avoiding mosquito bites — wear light-coloured long sleeves and long pants, use Health Canada-approved insect repellent, put tight-fitting screens on all windows and get rid of standing water in buckets, planters, pool covers and other containers to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.
Darlene Hensch, who once struggled with unexplained infertility, is now expecting quadruplets and preparing for a high-risk delivery and life-changing journey.
Negotiations that could have led to coverage for weight-loss drug Wegovy under Canadian public health plans are not moving forward.
They've been married for 55 years, but for most of that time, something has been missing from Janet and Robert Cockwill's life, until their grandson made a remarkable discovery.
NDP interim leader Don Davies said the government's response to a commissioned report on the program was 'shockingly dismissive,' and the health minister has not committed to act.
The Ford government is routinely making decisions before environmental consultations have concluded and under-resourcing public education about those consultations, the AG found.
From 2016 to 2024, the vacancy rate for health-related occupations nearly tripled, increasing from 2.1 per cent to 5.8 per cent, the report said.
The milestone deal with Ottawa signed earlier this week clears regulatory hurdles for a potential pipeline from Alberta to the West Coast.
Canadian veterinarians are sounding the alarm about their loss of access to about 40 per cent of medications they once were able to use and they are blaming Health Canada.