Staff members at the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit are urging you to make sure you apply bug spray before going outside.
They say a local horse has tested positive for “eastern equine encephalitis virus,” or EEEV, which can cause neurological diseases and even death in humans.
According to staff members, EEEV is usually found in birds, but can spread to humans and horses through mosquito bites similar to West Nile Virus.
Besides using bug spray, they recommend avoiding going outside at dawn or dusk, when mosquitos are most active.
They also suggest wearing light-coloured clothing that covers as much of your skin as possible when outside, making sure the screens in your windows and doors don’t have any holes, and getting rid of any standing water on your property.
You can learn more about EEEV and how to protect yourself on the Health Unit website.