Ninth Human Case of West Nile Virus Reported

Massachusetts Department of Public Health

HYANNIS – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has reported the ninth human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in the state this year.

The case involved a male in his 60s exposed in Middlesex County.

Twenty-seven communities in Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk and Suffolk remain at high risk levels while 71 remain at moderate risk for the mostly mosquito-borne virus.  

Cape Cod communities remain at low risk.

“While the risk from WNV is declining at this time of year, some risk will continue until there has been a hard frost,” said Acting Public Health Commissioner Margret Cooke in a statement.

“People should continue to take steps to prevent mosquito bites anytime they are outdoors.”

2020 saw a total of 11 cases of WNV infections.

Symptoms of WNV include fever and flu-like illness, and may be more severe in those over the age of 50.

About Grady Culhane

Grady Culhane is a Cape Cod native from Eastham. He studied media communications at Cape Cod Community College and joined the CapeCod.com News Center in 2019.



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