First case of West Nile virus in Mass. this year diagnosed
The first human case of West Nile virus in Massachusetts this year has been identified, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced Tuesday in a statement.A resident of Middlesex County in her 70s was diagnosed Tuesday by the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory, state health officials said. She is still currently hospitalized.DPH said it was conducting an investigation to discover where the woman was most likely exposed to infected mosquitos. The findings will help state health officials assess at-risk areas, according to the statement.“This is peak season in Massachusetts for possible West Nile virus infection in humans,” DPH State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Catherine Brown said. “The high temperatures and drought conditions that we’ve seen are resulting in elevated populations of the type of mosquitoes that are most likely to spread WNV.”The virus is usually transmitted through an infected mosquito’s bite and can affect people of all ages, although people over 50 are more at risk, DPH said. Symptoms, rarely present, can include fever and flu-like illness. More severe illness can occur in rare cases, according to the statement.DPH encouraged residents to protect themselves and avoid mosquito bites by applying insect repellent, being aware of peak mosquito hours (dusk to dawn), and using clothing to reduced exposed skin.State health officials also said the public should mosquito-proof their homes by draining standing water, and installing or repairing screens, as well as protecting one’s animals from bites. In 2015, 10 human cases of the virus were identified in Massachusetts, DPH said. For more information, visit the Arbovirus Surveillance Information website.
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