West Nile Virus Expected
to Spread Across Canada

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The potentially deadly West Nile virus is likely to spread to most areas of Canada this year despite a new campaign to curb its impact, medical experts conceded on Wednesday.

The first human cases in Canada were spotted in Ontario last year and 12 deaths have been associated with the disease across the country, with most coming in the heavily populated central province of Ontario. The mosquito-borne virus was blamed for more than 200 deaths in the United States last year.

"We have to be prepared for the spread of the virus across the country to all provinces, up to the west coast," Dr Harvey Artsob told a news conference aimed at launching a series of measures designed to combat the virus.

These include advising Canadians to limit the time they spend outside, to wear protective clothing, to ensure anti-mosquito screens on house windows fit properly and to use recommended insect repellents.

The officials said monitoring for the disease would be stepped up and also expressed hope that a blood test able to detect West Nile would be in place by July this year.

"West Nile virus is an emerging disease and there are many questions that still need to be answered," said Artsob.

The virus often causes only headaches or a mild flu-like illness. But the elderly, the chronically ill and those with weak immune systems can develop encephalitis, which can be fatal.

Reference Source 89

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