NurseWeek

West Nile virus
may be in Canada

Wire Services
August 7, 2000


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Toronto. The deadly mosquito-borne West Nile virus that has already killed 10 people in North America may be present in Canada, according to the Toronto Star newspaper.

A Toronto Star source who is an expert in infectious diseases said the virus was discovered in dead birds near the U.S.-Canadian border in New York, giving health officials reason to believe the virus has crossed over.

Canadian health officials began collecting dead birds for tests last week. The virus killed seven people in New York last summer, and is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. It is not transferred from human-to-human contact.

The only West Nile virus-related death in Canada came last year after a 75-year-old Toronto man died after apparently contracting the virus during a visit to New York City.

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