A retired Toronto man who loved spending his days outdoors has died of West Nile virus, and his family is now sharing his story as a cautionary tale just as a new mosquito season gets under way. Brent Seahan loved nature, often strolling through Toronto's High Park and taking photographs, and had only recently stepped away from work.
Seahan had just retired after nearly four decades on the job and celebrated the milestone the way he loved best, outdoors with friends, going to patios and taking walks together in High Park. Those outdoor moments were central to how he marked his new chapter, but as his family later put it, the outdoors was also the thing that got him in the end.
Last July, Toronto Public Health officials confirmed the first mosquitoes of the season had tested positive for West Nile virus. Within weeks, Seahan began feeling sick with what he thought was just a summer flu. Instead of passing, his illness rapidly escalated, and what had seemed like a minor complaint turned into something far more serious.
He died from West Nile encephalitis, a severe inflammation of the brain caused by the virus. According to the report, he was one of just nine Canadians to die of West Nile virus last year, an outcome that stunned those who knew him because becoming so ill from the virus is so uncommon.
Health experts say only about 1% of people infected with West Nile become that sick, while roughly 80% of those infected show no symptoms at all. Men, older adults and people with underlying health conditions face a higher risk of severe infection. If the virus reaches the brain or spinal cord, it can cause inflammation that leads to serious complications such as high fever, confusion, hallucinations, coma and, potentially, death.
There are no vaccines for West Nile virus and no specific treatments, which makes avoiding mosquito bites the main line of defence. With the mosquito season only just beginning, West Nile surveillance has also started, and officials note that the level of risk in any given year depends on a combination of factors including the weather, bird populations, mosquito abundance and local environmental conditions.
To reduce the danger, experts advise wearing light-coloured, long clothing, using insect repellent, especially at dawn and dusk, and eliminating standing water around the home where mosquitoes breed. They also warn that climate change is expected to make disease-bearing mosquitoes more common in countries like Canada. Seahan's family hopes that sharing their loss will serve as a warning that helps protect others.