BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced the sixth human case of West Nile virus in Massachusetts on Friday.
Health officials said the case was confirmed in a man in his 70s who was most likely exposed in Suffolk County.
Risk levels have been elevated to high in Chelsea, Malden, Revere, and Winthrop.
There have been 273 West Nile-positive mosquito samples detected in Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester counties.
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How to reduce your risk
- Apply insect repellent when outdoors.
- Use a repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient, such as DEET, permethrin, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Be aware of peak mosquito hours
- The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes.
- Clothing can help reduce mosquito bites.
- Wearing long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
- Mosquito-proof your home
- Drain Standing Water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change the water in birdbaths frequently.
- Install or repair screens.
- Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly fitting screens on all windows and doors.
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