What is the history of West Nile virus in Canada?
The first reports of West Nile virus activity in Canada came in August 2001, when the virus was found in dead birds and mosquito pools in southern Ontario. Canada had its first confirmed human cases in 2002, after people tested positive for West Nile virus in parts of Quebec and Ontario. The virus was also found in birds, horses or mosquitoes in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In addition, two people from Alberta became infected, but these cases are thought to be travel-related. In 2003 over 1,400 clinical cases were reported from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon. However in 2004, only 26 cases were reported in Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In 2005 more than 200 Canadians were diagnosed with West Nile virus. Almost half of these were in Ontario, with Manitoba and Saskatchewan equally sharing most of the remainder. For situation reports and maps showing virus activity in Canada, vis
