Toronto confirms its 1st human case of West Nile virus in 2025
Older individuals and people with compromised immune systems are at higher risk of illness, city says
Toronto Public Health (TPH) has confirmed the first human case of West Nile virus in the city this year.
The confirmed case is in an adult resident, the agency said in a news release Thursday.
West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Older residents and people with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk of illness, TPH said.
Health authorities say several precautions can be taken to lower the risk of a mosquito bite. These include:
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Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.
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Apply insect repellents approved by Health Canada.
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Remove stagnant water from your property to eliminate breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Symptoms can include fever, headache, nausea and body aches. The symptoms start showing in two to 14 days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito, TPH said.
In 2024, there were 14 confirmed human cases of West Nile virus in Toronto, the city said on its website.