A lady in her 70s has been contaminated with West Nile virus in Middlesex County, the Massachusetts Division of Public Health reported Tuesday, marking the state’s first human case of the mosquito-born illness this yr.
“West Nile virus can be a very serious disease and its presence in mosquitoes remains high right now in Massachusetts,” mentioned Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein. “While September brings cooler air and the return to school for many in the state, the risk from WNV is going to be elevated for some time. Residents should continue to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.”
The case is the primary in a human in Massachusetts this yr, although one WNV contaminated goat was recognized earlier in the summertime, DPH mentioned. Over 300 mosquitoes contaminated with WNV have been discovered throughout 12 counties this season.
WNV is the main reason for mosquito-borne illness within the continental U.S., in response to the CDC, and there are not any vaccines or medicines in use for the illness.
Although many individuals contaminated with WNV don’t really feel sick, some will develop signs like a fever and few change into severely or fatally sick, the CDC states.
Ten cities and cities in Suffolk and Middlesex counties, together with Boston, are at the moment at excessive threat for the virus, in response to state well being authorities.
Throughout Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk and Worcester counties, 193 extra municipalities are ranked at average threat for West Nile.
Health authorities have urged Massachusetts residents to take precautions, together with avoiding out of doors actions throughout peak mosquito hours from nightfall to daybreak in areas of excessive threat, draining standing water the place mosquitoes can breed, and repairing or putting in screens to home windows and doorways.
When exterior, residents can even scale back threat by making use of insect repellant and sporting lengthy sleeves, DPH states. Pet homeowners ought to ask vets about vaccines and bug repellant secure to make use of on animals. House owners are required to report suspected an infection in animals to the state Division of Agricultural Sources and DPH.
Individuals over the age of fifty or immunocompromised have the next threat of growing critical sickness from West Nile, the Boston Public Health Fee warns. Signs could embody excessive fever, extreme headache, confusion, lack of coordination, and muscle weak point, and residents struggling ought to “contact a health care provider immediately.”
The mosquito-born sickness Jap equine encephalitis (EEE) has additionally been present in 18 samples of the bugs this yr in Massachusetts, DPH said, although no human or animal instances have been reported.
In 2024, there have been 19 human instances of West Nile reported in Massachusetts, and 4 human instances of EEE, one among which was deadly.
“The mosquitoes will be with us until the first hard frost,” mentioned State Epidemiologist Catherine Brown. “People should use mosquito repellent with an EPA-registered active ingredient, clothing to reduce exposed skin, and consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during the evening or early morning.”
Extra details about the danger of mosquito-borne sickness throughout Massachusetts and advisable security precautions could be discovered at mass.gov/mosquito-borne-diseases, which is up to date each day, or by calling the DPH Division of Epidemiology at 617-983-6800.
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