West Nile Virus Hits Massachusetts: 6th Case Confirmed

Massachusetts public health officials confirmed on Friday that a man in his 70s is the state's sixth reported case of West Nile virus this year. The individual was likely exposed in a part of Suffolk County outside of Boston. This development has prompted officials to raise the risk level for West Nile virus to high in the communities of Chelsea, Malden, Revere, and Winthrop. This marks the third human case in Suffolk County this year, with two other men in their 50s and 70s previously reported. Three additional cases have been recorded in Middlesex County, involving men in their 60s, 80s, and 90s.

Statewide, 273 WNV-positive mosquito samples have been detected across all counties except Nantucket, with the first positive samples identified in June. Eastern equine encephalitis has also been found in 13 mosquito samples this year, although no human or animal cases have been reported. Health officials are advising residents to avoid outdoor activities during peak mosquito hours, typically from dusk to dawn, and to wear protective clothing such as long sleeves and pants. They also recommend draining standing water from areas like birdbaths and pools to curb mosquito breeding.