“Oh no, I’m not going to do that,” people would say. An odd, if typical, reaction. It seems most of us are happier not knowing.

A newly released study of a 2002 “WNv hotspot” showed that “virtually all” of the randomly selected respondents knew about the virus and how to protect themselves – 80 percent even felt it was an important issue – though more than half had done nothing to avoid being bitten. The study also showed the community infection rate to be higher than predicted at 3.1 percent (up to 1,219 people in that area alone).

One of the reasons Public Health interviews every known victim is that every bit of new knowledge counts. Currently, scientists are trying to determine whether the virus can be transmitted from mother to fetus, or to a baby through breast milk. My investigator informed me that while I had the anti-bodies, I shouldn’t consider myself protected. It’s even possible that having the antibodies could result in more serious symptoms if you contract West Nile again. No studies prove otherwise.

And while many info sheets tell you that an abnormally swollen bite is reason to get checked out, so is a bite that produces no effect whatsoever. Mosquitoes also seem to be most contagious in the fall, when the majority of us have stopped worrying about them.

Public Health considers my partner and me “a human cluster.” Our neighbourhood, I’ve since learned, is known by the West Nile field team as a “hot zone.” Human cases are poor indicators because we move around so much, but the funky-looking trap they installed in our backyard confirmed the presence of “positive adults” – that’s adult mosquitoes, of course. Never mind the invasion of insects and investigators; I take solace in being part of a long history of humans, mosquitoes, and disease transmission.

Lorna’s last word was: “So you’ll continue to use DEET-based insect repellent, wear light-coloured, high-coverage clothing when outside, rid your property of standing water, and ensure screens fit snugly in your windows and are in good repair?”

“Yes, of course,” said Number 36 sheepishly, gazing out her open window and thinking about how she really oughta fix that hole.

Maybe next season.