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Youth football practice in Carver canceled because of West Nile virus

CARVER — Practice for the Carver Cowboys youth football team was canceled Thursday after several mosquito samples collected in town this week tested positive for West Nile virus.

Friday’s practice is still scheduled, but every player will have to be sprayed with insect repellent.

As of right now practice is on for tomorrow. Each child has to be sprayed with bug spray. Team moms will have it...

Posted by Carver Cowboys - Youth Football on Thursday, September 6, 2018

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health , five mosquito samples collected in town Tuesday tested positive for West Nile virus.

Four of the mosquitoes were of the Culiseta melanura species. The species is known to bite birds, but West Nile virus can spread to other species.

One mosquito was a Coquillettidia perturbans, which bites birds and mammals and is a persistent human biter.

So far this year, 471 mosquito samples collected in Massachusetts have tested positive for West Nile virus. Nine people were infected with the virus, as well as a horse and llama.

​​​​>>Related: What you need to know about mosquito-borne diseases