Boston Reports First West Nile Virus Case

Boston public health officials have confirmed the city's first human case of West Nile virus. A man in his 60s received a positive diagnosis, making him the third person in Massachusetts to contract the illness this year.

Following this diagnosis, the state Department of Public Health has elevated the risk level to 'high' for Boston residents. The two previous cases were also reported in Middlesex County.

West Nile virus is transmitted through mosquito bites and can cause a range of symptoms from mild fever to severe neurological conditions like encephalitis or meningitis. Officials emphasize that individuals over 50 and those who are immunocompromised are at greater risk for severe illness. Most infected individuals exhibit no symptoms.

To mitigate risks, residents are advised to use insect repellent, wear protective clothing during dusk and dawn, and remove stagnant water sources where mosquitoes breed, such as clogged gutters and unused pools.