Individual assignment at Seneca College

1. Contact: Sal Hosny
The Nipissing Region Health Department
343 Yonge St. E.
Nipissing, ON
M2N 3B3
Tel: 647-111-2222
Cell: 647-111-3333
Email: sal.hosny@nrhd.ca
For Immediate Release
FIRST WEST NILE VIRUS CASES CONFIRMED IN NIPISSING REGION
Nipissing. ON – October 7, 2011 - The Nipissing Region health department confirmed that at least two
people have been infected with the West Nile virus in the Nipissing region according to a positive test
report received from the Toronto Laboratory of Public Health Ontario.
“The virus spreads through mosquitos during the breeding season and is not dangerous in most cases,”
said John Smith, head of the health department. “However, residents should be more cautious to avoid
infection, especially seniors and people with underlying illnesses.”
Only 20 per cent of those infected suffer from mild symptoms such as chills, headache, and nausea. Death
is rare, and less than one per cent develops serious conditions. Residents are urged to take the following
steps to avoid catching the disease:
Cover up and wear light coloured long-sleeved shirts.
Avoid going out from early evening to morning.
Ensure that windows fit tightly.
Get rid of water-filler containers around the property.
Use an approved insect repellent.
Report standing water to the department.
-more-

2. Nipissing/Page 2
The Nipissing region’s mosquito surveillance program team has found the virus in batches of mosquitos
for the past five weeks, due to an unusually longer breeding season in northern Ontario. It believes that
climate change in recent years, due to global warming, is behind this phenomenon.
-30-