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There was one positive benefit to the chilly spring -- it's likely shortened the West Nile season. It's warmer weather and a little rain that's the perfect recipe for the West Nile Virus.

Medical Health Officer Dr. Mark Vooght tells us when we will be most at risk, "The West Nile season usually starts around mid-July, the risk really starts to pick up, up to end-August.  So, at this moment in time as we enjoy the summer weather we just need to protect ourselves more against those nuisance mosquitos that aren't really infected with West Nile yet."

Dr. Vooght adds the severity of the risk depends on a number of things, "How's this year going to pan out?  We've had a quiet year last year, so these things come in cycles every couple of years, so who knows.  It all depends on the weather of course, you need enough heat, you need enough of the West Nile Virus circulating in nature."

In the local Five Hills Health Region last year we had two cases of West Nile -- that was down from 113 cases in 2007.