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.