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West Nile virus is back. Where it’s been found, and what you should know
West Nile virus has returned to Canada for another season, with detections in mosquitoes in multiple regions of Ontario in the past week, including in Toronto.
Niagara Region Public Health confirmed Tuesday that West Nile virus had been detected in mosquitoes in Welland, Ont., while Toronto and York Region reported their first positive cases in the insects late last week.
No human cases of the virus have been reported in Canada as of Wednesday, but that isn’t stopping health-care professionals from urging caution.
“Nobody wants to get bit by mosquitoes, whether or not they’re causing fever,” said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist at Toronto General Hospital.
What are the symptoms of West Nile virus?
West Nile virus first arrived in Canada in August 2002, according to Infection Prevention and Control Canada (IPAC).
IPAC says the virus primarily infects birds and is then spread to humans by mosquitoes that have fed on the blood of those birds.
Though no human cases have been reported in Canada so far this year, Bogoch said they are typically seen in mid- to late summer and into early fall.
In those that the virus does infect, about 70 to 80 per cent may not even realize they have it, as they will have no symptoms.
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But those who do will typically experience symptoms like a fever, a headache, body aches, a mild rash and swollen lymph glands.
The symptoms usually appear within two to 15 days after infection.
The Public Health Agency of Canada says less than one per cent of people infected with the virus will develop severe symptoms and health effects.
PHAC says people 50 years and older, those with chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease, and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of severe symptoms.
In severe cases, people can face the rapid onset of a severe headache, a high fever, a stiff neck, nausea or vomiting, difficulty swallowing, drowsiness or confusion.
PHAC says loss of consciousness, lack of co-ordination, muscle weakness or paralysis are also possible in severe cases.
“Rarely it can cause neurologic manifestations and that can be more severe,” Bogoch said.
“It can cause inflammation of the brain, inflammation of the area around the brain and spinal cord, a meningitis-type picture, and then it can also rarely cause a paralysis-type syndrome that’s really reminiscent of polio.”
Canadian Family Physician, the official publication of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, notes that three to 15 per cent of those with severe illness can die.
“It’s extremely rare, but again it’s no laughing matter,” Bogoch said.
Mild cases typically take a week to recover, but PHAC says some severe cases could see a variety of health effects that could last months to years after illness.
People who develop symptoms of West Nile after being bitten by a mosquito are urged to see their health-care provider immediately.
The risk of becoming infected with West Nile virus starts in mid-April and lasts typically until the first hard frost in either late September or October.
The highest risk period for humans is between mid-July and early September, with mosquitoes often most active at dawn and dusk.
PHAC says when outside, people should cover exposed skin by wearing long pants and loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts, socks and a hat. People should also wear light-coloured clothing, as PHAC notes mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours.
People are also encouraged to use insect repellents containing DEET or icaridin, which can also help prevent bites.
The health agency says Canadians can also take steps to reduce mosquitoes near their home, namely by getting rid of standing water around their home and putting screens on their windows and doors.
However, while West Nile can be a concern, Bogoch says it shouldn’t prevent Canadians from enjoying the summer, whether they’re at the beach, at a cottage or enjoying summer camp.
“We should be outside and enjoying it as much as possible, because winter is unfortunately around the corner as well,” he said. “But no reason to hide indoors because of this. Just go outside, have a wonderful time, be aware that they’re there.”
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
TORONTO – Bo Bichette’s two-run homer capped off a wild victory as the Toronto Blue Jays held off the New York Yankees 8-4 on Wednesday.
The victory tied the Blue Jays with the Houston Astros for the best record in the American League.
Myles Straw’s double drove in Ernie Clement for the go-ahead run in the sixth inning as Toronto (60-42) won the three-game series and locked up the tiebreaker between the two AL East rivals.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had an RBI double in the fourth, then drove in two more runs in the fifth on a fielder’s choice, as the Blue Jays and Yankees traded leads. Clement’s basehit in the fourth also scored a runner and pinch-hitter Will Wagner plated Straw in the sixth.
Chris Bassitt (11-4) was solid for 7 1/3 innings, striking out eight and allowing four runs — three earned — on three hits and no walks. Relievers Justin Bruihl and Yariel Rodriguez preserved the win.
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Aaron Judge’s two-run homer in the sixth tied the game 4-4 for New York (56-46), but that lead disappeared in the bottom of the inning thanks to Straw and Wagner’s RBIs. Jasson Dominguez had a home run in the second and Anthony Volpe added a solo shot in the fifth.
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Ace Max Fried (11-4) struggled, giving up five runs — four earned — on six hits and three walks, striking out three over 5 1/3 innings.
Jonathan Loaisiga, Scott Effross and JT Brubaker all came out of the visitor’s bullpen, with Effross giving up two runs.
Takeaways
Yankees: The long ball remains the key to success for New York, with all four of its runs coming from homers. The Yankees entered the game with a Major League Baseball-best 162 home runs, five more than the Los Angeles Dodgers. Shohei Ohtani had L.A.’s one homer in its 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins earlier Wednesday.
Blue Jays: Toronto benefited greatly from New York’s four errors and other fielding miscues, eking out runs on walks, dropped balls, wild pitches, and overthrows. Bichette’s two-run blast — his 13th home run of the year — was the Blue Jays’ cleanest score of the game as Guerrero had led off the inning with a double.
Key moment
Davis Schneider was caught stealing by Yankees catcher J.C. Escarra with one out in the fifth inning. A video replay overturned the call on the field, however. George Springer drew a walk in the next at bat and Guerrero drove them both home when Escarra dropped the ball trying to tag Schneider at the plate.
Key stat
The Blue Jays expanded their lead in the AL East to four games over New York with the victory. Toronto and the Yankees will play three more times this year but the Blue Jays now have the tiebreaker should they wind up with identical records by the end of the regular season.
Up next
Eric Lauer (5-2) will take the mound as the Blue Jays begin a four-game series in Detroit.
Reese Olson (4-3) gets the start for the AL Central-leading Tigers (60-43).
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for parts of southern Ontario starting Thursday, with temperatures expected to reach up to 35 C.
The weather agency says a stretch of the province bordering Lake Ontario, from St. Catharines, Ont., to Toronto, will see peak humidex values of up to 44 C.
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It says while daytime high temperatures will not be as extreme on Friday and into the weekend, nighttime lows are expected to remain warm, providing little relief from heat.
Environment Canada says temperatures on Friday will near 30 C, with a humidex of up to 40 C.
It’s not the first heat warning for Ontario this summer — extreme heat reaching the mid-30s broke temperature records in many parts of the province in June.
During extreme heat events, people are advised to drink water often, watch for signs of heat exhaustion and to check on older adults and those at risk of heat illness.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
Ontario is planning to sidestep the federal government and begin issuing work permits to asylum seekers living in the province using a clause written into the constitution.
At the end of a three-day summit with the nation’s leaders in Muskoka, Ont., Premier Doug Ford said his government would start studying how it could give asylum seekers the right to work immediately in the province.
“We have authority in that area,” he said. “No one understands the sectors and their labour needs better than the premiers.”
Ford said it was Alberta Premier Danielle Smith who pointed out Section 95 of the constitution gives provinces the right to make decisions on immigration. That section allows provincial governments to create laws governing immigration “as long and as far only as it is not repugnant” to any federal law.
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Global News contacted the federal immigration ministry to ask if it would oppose any moves by Ontario to give asylum seekers work permits. It did not send a statement in time for publication.
“We will be issuing our own work permits,” Ford declared on Thursday.
He said the move made sense in order to allow asylum seekers, who receive government support while their applications are processed, to contribute to the local economy as they wait.
“I have a tremendous amount of asylum seekers that are up in Etobicoke in the hotels, they’re healthy, they’re willing to work, they’re hardworking people, but they’re waiting over two years and they’re just sucking off the system — not their fault,” Ford said.
“The fault falls under immigration that it takes over two years to get a work permit.”
The premier’s office said Ontario, along with other provinces, was currently exploring exactly what using Section 95 powers would look like.
They said there was no timeline for when the province could start issuing work permits, nor had it yet been finalized what mechanisms or legislation would be needed.
Direction from Ford, however, was clear, according to his office: internal work would begin immediately to figure out how to grant the work permits.
The premier said asylum seekers in his province want to work.
“They want to get out there and they want to be like every other Canadian,” Ford said. “They want to find a job, they want to be able to first start off renting a condo or part of a house and then buying a house.”
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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