BOSTON (WPRI) — A man in his 50s has contracted West Nile virus (WNV) in Massachusetts, bringing the state’s number of human cases to 12 on the year.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) said the man was exposed to the virus in Essex County, raising the risk level to moderate in Beverly, Danvers, Essex, Manchester, Peabody, Salem and Wenham.

There have been 330 positive WNV samples detected this year in Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester counties.

The DPH said there were six human cases of the virus in 2023. Both this year and last year, no animal cases have been found.

“This has been an active year for mosquito-borne disease, including West Nile virus,” Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein said. “The risk for disease will continue until the first hard frost, so we continue to recommend that people take steps to protect themselves.”

You can protect yourself from mosquitoes by putting screens on windows and making sure there is no standing water on your property. Health officials also recommend using an EPA-approved bug spray and staying indoors from dusk until dawn during peak biting times.

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