West Nile Virus

It’s mosquito season again! Here are some things to know about the most common mosquito-borne disease and how to protect yourself.

There have been four human cases of the West Nile virus in Massachusetts this year, prompting risk levels to increase to high for more than 25 communities in Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk and Suffolk counties. All four individuals were likely exposed to the virus in Middlesex County, the state Department of Public Health has said. Two are men, one in his…

Health officials on Thursday announced two more human cases of the West Nile virus in Massachusetts this year, bringing the state’s total to three and prompting an elevated risk level for 38 communities across the commonwealth. Both individuals are men, one in his 50s and the other in his 70s, and both were exposed to the virus in Middlesex County,…

The risk level has been raised in 38 communities.

Health officials on Wednesday announced the first human case of West Nile virus in Massachusetts this year. The individual is a woman in her 80s who was likely exposed to the virus in Middlesex County, an area known to be at moderate risk, the state Department of Public Health said. The risk of West Nile virus is moderate in the…

Mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus have now been found in 20 cities and towns across Connecticut. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment station updated the number of infected mosquitoes trapped and the towns in which they were found on Tuesday. The latest round of testing identified mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus in Bridgeport, Glastonbury, Greenwich, Meriden, Milford, Waterford, and Wethersfield….

West Nile virus has been found in a mosquito sample collected in Rhode Island for the first time this summer, state environmental officials said. A mosquito trapped July 29 in Cranston tested positive for the virus, the state Department of Environmental Management said in a statement Thursday. No mosquito samples this year have tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis, another…

A rainy July in Massachusetts has led to an increase in mosquitoes and a heightened concern over the illnesses they can carry. Out for an evening walk in Bedford, Amy Boutiette had on her mosquito repellent ankle bands. “They seem to be helping a little bit,” she said. “But it’s been a really rough year, and I’m not going...

For the first time in 2021, West Nile virus was detected in a mosquito in Boston, health officials said Friday. The virus-carrying mosquito was captured in Jamaica Plain on Wednesday and confirmed to have West Nile at the state’s public health lab Friday, the Boston Public Health Commission said. The announcement comes just over two weeks since the year’s...

A mosquito has tested positive for West Nile virus in Massachusetts for the first time this year, the Department of Public Health said Thursday. The infected mosquito was caught in Medford on Tuesday — no person or animal has yet been diagnosed with the virus, which can cause severe illness. Acting Public Health Commissioner Margret Cooke said in a statement…

After human cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile virus were recently reported, mosquito spraying around various neighborhoods in Massachusetts will take place Monday evening.

Massachusetts health officials have confirmed the first human case of West Nile virus in the state this year. A man in his 50s is believed to have been exposed to the mosquito-borne illness while in southwestern Essex County or eastern Middlesex County, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said Friday. “This is the first time that West Nile virus infection…

West Nile virus has resurfaced in Massachusetts for the first time this year, health officials said. Two mosquitoes tested positive for the mosquito-borne illness after being collected in the Middlesex County town of Belmont on Tuesday, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said in a statement. The department hasn’t elevated any risk levels in connection with the mosquitoes testing...