A Canadian man has issued a critical alert after contracting a life-threatening disease from a mosquito bite while tending to his garden.

René van den Berg from Ontario believes he encountered the mosquito in his backyard sometime in September.

By September 20, van den Berg was experiencing severe headaches. The pain intensified to the point where he had to seek emergency medical attention.

After undergoing multiple tests, including a CT scan and a spinal tap, doctors diagnosed him with viral meningitis. This condition leads to swelling of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

While many cases present with mild symptoms such as fever and headaches that resolve without intervention, some can escalate, resulting in complications like vision and hearing impairment, as well as problems with memory and coordination.

Medical professionals determined that van den Berg’s meningitis was triggered by the West Nile virus, a mosquito-transmitted disease that often remains asymptomatic in those infected.

But in one in five patients, the disease can lead to fever, headaches, nausea, diarrhea, joint pain and pain behind the eyes. And in one percent of cases, like van den Berg’s, the virus penetrates the blood-brain barrier and travels to the meninges, causing meningitis and potential paralysis. 

Van den Berg noted he was surprised to have been bitten so late in the year. 

The above map shows cases of West Nile Virus detected in the US by state

He told CTV News: ‘I thought mosquitoes would die off at the end of August, when temperatures get colder at night.’

Van den Berg’s illness came on as mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile surge in the US and Canada even as summer has waned and fall sets in, which experts believe could be due to rising temperatures.

West Nile is the leading mosquito-borne illness in the US, caused by a bite from Culex mosquitoes. 

It’s most common in Great Plains states like North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Colorado, though cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas-Fort Worth also record high levels due to large populations. 

Many of these states have also extended mosquito season due to the increases in mosquito prevalence later in the year.  

The latest CDC data shows cases are up 40 percent compared to this time last year, with about 3,500 infections recorded so far this year. 

It typically causes around 2,200 severe cases and 180 deaths annually.

West Nile is fatal in about one out of 10 people who go on to develop nervous system infections, or about one in 1,500 people with West Nile. 

Older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and those with certain chronic conditions face the highest risk of severe illness due to West Nile.

Even survivors of severe West Nile illness may experience long-lasting complications, including memory problems, chronic fatigue, muscle tremors, or permanent neurological damage.

Lisa Montez (pictured here) contracted West Nile virus in July 2022 and, unlike roughly 80 percent of cases, felt sick almost immediately. She is part of a small group who experience symptoms like migraines, fatigue, fever and rash 

Fabio Caruso, 40, better known as The Sicilian Slammer in the ring, contracted West Nile Virus, which left him paralyzed from the neck down 

West Nile virus can be prevented primarily by avoiding mosquito bites. CDC officials recommend using insect repellents that contain the ingredient DEET, wearing long sleeves and pants outside and staying inside between dusk and dawn during the summer.  

Van den Berg ended up spending 11 days in the hospital recovering from West Nile and meningitis and is now finishing his recovery at home. 

He is now warning others to not to underestimate their risk, even when most cases are mild. ‘Wear mosquito repellent, long sleeves if there’s mosquitos around. Just try to prevent a bite,’ he said.

‘One percent is not as little as you think it is.’