West Nile Virus human cases climb in MA

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - The number of people in Massachusetts who have contracted the mosquito-borne illness, West Nile Virus, has climbed higher.

On Friday, state health officials announced an additional three human cases, bringing the total this year so far...to eleven.

“Most of the 11 human cases of WNV this year were exposed in areas of Middlesex and Suffolk counties at high risk for WNV. Risk levels for WNV are currently high in Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Newton, Revere, Somerville, Watertown, and Winthrop,” MA Department of Public Health (DPH) officials said.

They noted most of the rest of the state is at moderate risk.

In the latest three cases, we’re told a man in his 60s was exposed in Suffolk County, a male of “unknown age” was exposed in Suffolk County, and a man in his 90s was also exposed in Middlesex County.

Just a week ago, state health officials reported the number of human cases stood at eight.

[READ MORE: 8th case of West Nile Virus reported in Mass.]

Even though temperatures are colder at night as we enter the fall season, the risk of WNV will continue until the first hard frost.

So, how can you protect you and your family from contracting this virus?

The DPH outlines the following recommendations:

• Apply Insect Repellent when Outdoors. Use a repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient, such as DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), or oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) or IR3535) according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.
• Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Times: Dusk to dawn is when they bite the most.
• Wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
• Install or Repair your Window Screens so they don’t get in.

You may be wondering: Where does Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) human cases stand so far this year in MA? ... which is another mosquito-borne viral illness.

At zero.

“There have been 26 EEE-positive mosquito samples (but) no human or animal cases so far this year,” explained the MA DPH on Friday.

Which is the same for cases of WNV in animals so far that the state tracks.

“No animal cases of WNV have been reported this year,” MA health officials noted.