Massachusetts health officials confirm additional human cases of West Nile virus

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced two additional human cases of West Nile virus in Massachusetts.

Officials said one is a man in his 80s who was exposed in Middlesex County. The second is a man in his 70s with likely exposure in Suffolk County.

It marks the third human case of West Nile virus in Middlesex County and the second in Suffolk County.

There have been 232 West Nile virus-positive mosquito samples detected in Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester counties this year.

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The Department of Public Health will begin updating residents every Friday starting this week if new cases are confirmed.

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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