The Massachusetts Department of Public Health [DPH] announced on Thursday, September 10, four new human cases of West Nile Virus [WNV] in Massachusetts.
The total number of of cases in Massachusetts this year is now seven.
In 2019, there were five human cases in Massachusetts
Three of the new cases are men who were exposed to the virus in Middlesex County. The men are in their 40s, 60s and 80s, respectively.
The fourth new case is a woman under the age of 19. Her exposure occurred in Bristol County.
DPH has not reported any cases known to be contracted in Worcester County.
WNV is typically transmitted by mosquitoes. Symptoms tend to include fever and flu-like illness. In rare cases, more severe illness can occur.
While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe disease. Most people infected with WNV will have no symptoms.
To protect against mosquito bites, DPH recommends using insect repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)], or IR3535.
Avoiding outdoor activities that occur in the early morning or evening, which are peak mosquito biting times, is also recommended.
Wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors can also help keep mosquitoes away from skin.
Draining standing water, where mosquitoes lay their eggs, and installing or repairing window and door screens is also recommended.