Canadian Man Contracts Rare Mosquito-Borne Meningitis in Late Summer

In September 2025, a man in Ontario, Canada named René van den Berg was working in his backyard when he was bitten by a mosquito. By September 20th, van den Berg had developed severe headaches that prompted him to rush to the hospital. After extensive testing, doctors determined that van den Berg had contracted viral meningitis, a rare complication of West Nile virus.

While most West Nile cases involve mild symptoms that resolve on their own, van den Berg's case led to inflammation around the brain and spinal cord, potentially causing vision and hearing loss, memory issues, and paralysis. Experts note that West Nile virus cases have surged 40% compared to this time last year, with around 3,500 infections recorded so far in 2025.

Van den Berg was surprised to have been bitten so late in the year, as he thought mosquitoes would have died off by the end of August. However, rising temperatures have extended mosquito season in many regions, leading to a spike in West Nile and other mosquito-borne illnesses even as summer transitions to fall. Van den Berg spent 11 days in the hospital recovering and is now warning others not to underestimate the risk, even when most cases are mild.