DPH identifies 13th human case of West Nile Virus

BOSTON (WWLP) – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is reporting that a 13th human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) has been found in Massachusetts.

According to DPH, the infected person is a man in his 40s who was exposed in southern Essex County. As a result, WNV risk levels are being raised to moderate in Middleton in Essex County and North Reading in Middlesex County.

So far this year there have been 332 WNV-positive mosquito samples found in Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester counties. Last year, there were six human cases of WNV and no animal cases. No animal cases of WNV have been confirmed this year.

The risk for WNV will continue until the first hard frost. Health officials remind residents and visitors to the state to protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and pants while outside, using insect repellent, and reducing time outside, especially between dusk and dawn.

Information about West Nile Virus can be found on the Mass.gov website.

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