The rain may have put a damper on your outdoor endeavours Tuesday and Wednesday, but now that it's clear you may wish it back.

Mosquitoes will likely return to suck the fun out of your summer plans.

Alberta Health Services wants to remind you to take precautions this mosquito season as the bugs could carry the West Nile virus.

Dr. Judy MacDonald says some of the winged pests may carry the disease which can cause serious infection in humans...

"When you get bitten by a mosquito there is the possibility you'll have no symptoms at all if West Nile is present, but some people, especially those 50 years of age and older, or are immune compromised are more at risk of getting a severe form of West Nile," explains MacDonald. "It is actually called West Nile neurological syndrome."

MacDonald says there typically aren't many cases of West Nile virus recorded in Alberta.

"It isn't really common, but the thing is we know that we can expect to see it every year during the summer," explain MacDonald. "Some years we see more cases, human cases, and in other years its very much dependant on the mosquitoes and the bird population and what the weather's doing."

MacDonald says to avoid bites use insect repellant with Deet in it, wear long sleeved shirts and pants or avoid outdoor activity at dawn and dusk. (twd, chqr)