ALBERTA – Mosquitoes are a common summer pest. It’s important to remember that if you’re bitten, you may be at risk for West Nile virus. With mosquitoes thriving this time of year, Primary Care Alberta asks Albertans to protect their health by preventing bites.

While the risk of West Nile virus remains low in Alberta, some mosquitoes can carry the virus, so it’s best to avoid being bitten at all. West Nile virus is an infection that can give you flu-like symptoms. In rare cases, the infection can lead to brain and spinal cord inflammation, which can be hard to recover from. There is currently no specific treatment for West Nile virus infection.

Here are some ways you can help prevent mosquito bites:

• Cover as much of your body as possible when outdoors, especially in grassy or wooded areas.
• Wear long-sleeved, light-coloured shirts and pants, and a hat.
• Stay indoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.  
• Use a Health Canada-approved insect repellent (for example, products with DEET or Icaridin) and follow the product label instructions.

If you’re a parent or caregiver, do not use insect repellent with DEET on babies under six months of age. Instead, use mosquito netting and try not to be outside when insect activity is high, like at dawn and dusk.

If your child is old enough for you to use insect repellent with DEET, limit use where you can:

• If your child is six months of age to two years old, do not use insect repellent more than once a day. Use insect repellent only when there’s a high risk of insect bites, like at dawn and dusk.
• If your child is over two years of age, you can use it up to three times a day.

Always make sure you use a registered product labelled as an insect repellent for use on people. Visit Personal Insect repellents - Canada.ca for more information. To learn more about West Nile virus and ways to keep safe, visit Fightthebite.info.

Care is a lifelong commitment for Primary Care Alberta. We plan, fund and support primary healthcare across the province, improving access to care providers and offering front-line services through Health Link 811 and public health teams. Throughout the health journey, we are by your side – managing, preventing and reducing illness. Along with our partners, we nurture the connections our communities need to thrive and strengthen the health of all Albertans.