As Ontario enters the warmer months and mosquito activity increases, health authorities are renewing warnings about West Nile virus and urging residents to take straightforward precautions. The caution comes as families whose lives were profoundly altered by the virus say public awareness remains too low — even after 181 reported cases in 2025, according to Public Health Ontario.
Severe illness can follow a single bite
Most people infected with West Nile virus experience mild flu-like symptoms or none at all. However, a small number of cases progress to neuroinvasive disease when the virus reaches the central nervous system, causing paralysis, cognitive changes and other serious, sometimes permanent, disabilities.
One affected Ontarian, André Gagné of Milton, described a sudden and dramatic decline in health after what he believes was a mosquito bite at home. He spent months in hospital and continues to live with major disabilities.
"I lost 70 pounds in about a month because I was paralysed... I can't get dressed anymore and people have to feed me because I don't have my arm functioning. It's horrible to not be independent," he said.
Gagné was diagnosed with West Nile neuroinvasive disease — a condition that occurs in fewer than 1 per cent of infections but can be devastating for those affected. His account underscores how quickly a mosquito-borne infection can overwhelm a previously healthy person.
What public health officials are saying
Provincial and local public-health agencies stress a layered approach to prevention: reducing mosquito breeding sites, using personal protective measures and seeking medical attention if symptoms worsen. Officials also monitor mosquito populations and human cases to guide control measures aimed at limiting local transmission.
Public Health Ontario’s 2025 tally of 181 reported human infections is a reminder that the virus remains active in the province. While year-to-year numbers can fluctuate depending on weather and mosquito activity, that total demonstrates tangible risk in communities across Ontario.
Simple steps residents can take
Health experts recommend practical actions to lower the chance of being bitten and to slow local spread. Those include:
- Eliminating standing water around homes — emptying plant saucers, bird baths and other containers weekly;
- Using EPA- or Health Canada-approved insect repellent when outdoors;
- Wearing long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active;
- Ensuring window and door screens are intact to keep mosquitoes out of living spaces;
- Seeking medical care if symptoms progress beyond mild flu-like illness, particularly for older adults or people with underlying conditions.
Local impact and the challenge of early diagnosis
Clinicians can face difficulty diagnosing West Nile virus early because initial symptoms often mimic more common viral infections. For the small percentage whose infection becomes neuroinvasive, delayed diagnosis may hamper supportive care and rehabilitation.
Families like Gagné’s argue that improved public education could lead to earlier recognition, swifter testing and better support for people whose recoveries are prolonged. They also want provincial campaigns to highlight the severity of rare but serious outcomes.
Data snapshot
| Year | Reported human cases (Ontario) |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 181 |
That figure from Public Health Ontario provides a baseline for public concern and planning as mosquito season progresses.
Urban and rural risks — and differing exposures
The risk is not confined to any single setting. Urban neighbourhoods with neglected containers, stormwater catchments or poorly maintained green spaces can harbour mosquito breeding sites just as readily as rural properties with ponds or ditching. The province’s mix of dense cities and agricultural and cottage-country landscapes means prevention efforts must be tailored locally.
Municipal vector-control programs vary across jurisdictions, and responsibility for reducing mosquito habitat often falls to homeowners, farmers and property managers. That local variability can lead to unequal exposure risk and inconsistent public messaging.
Looking ahead
As temperatures rise and outdoor activity increases, public-health officials reiterate the need for vigilance. For families who have watched a loved one suffer severe long-term effects, the hope is for clearer information, stronger prevention campaigns and more accessible supports for survivors living with disability.
Residents should check their local public-health unit’s guidance for region-specific advice on mosquito control and protection strategies, and consider the simple at-home steps that can reduce the chance of infection for themselves and their neighbours.
— Ryan Kowalski, Ontario correspondent
