CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced two new human cases of West Nile virus (WNV), bringing the state’s total to four for 2024.
The latest cases involve two men in their 60s, one from Suffolk County and the other from Norfolk County, both exposed in areas with elevated risk for the virus.
As a result, several communities have been upgraded to high-risk levels for WNV, including Cambridge, Everett, Medford, Newton, Somerville, and Watertown in Middlesex County, along with Brookline, Milton, and Quincy in Norfolk County.
“We are in the peak time for West Nile virus activity, which will persist into September,” said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. “With the increasing amount of WNV in mosquitoes, the likelihood of human infection also rises. It’s crucial for everyone to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.”
This announcement follows earlier reports of two human cases, one in Hampden County and another in Middlesex County. So far, no animal cases of WNV have been detected in Massachusetts this year. In 2023, the state saw six human cases of WNV.
WNV is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. So far this year, 262 WNV-positive mosquito samples have been identified across Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Hampden, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester counties. The risk of human infection is now considered moderate to high in the Greater Boston area and parts of other counties across the state.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine M. Brown emphasized that while not everyone exposed to WNV will fall ill, people over 60 and those with pre-existing health conditions are more likely to experience severe symptoms. “We encourage everyone to take preventive steps to reduce the risk of mosquito bites,” said Dr. Brown.
The DPH continues to urge residents to protect themselves by using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, and avoiding peak mosquito activity during dusk and dawn. These precautions are especially important as the state nears the height of mosquito season. The risk of WNV will remain until the first hard frost of the season.
For more information on WNV and how to protect yourself, visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s website.
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John Budenas
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