The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported Thursday four additional human cases of West Nile virus in the state this year. This brings the total number of cases to seven. State health officials said three of the four cases are male – one in his 40s, one in this 60s and one in his 80s. Health officials said all were exposed to the West Nile virus in Middlesex County. West Nile virus was also diagnosed in a female under the age of 19 with exposure in Bristol County. As a result of information obtained during case investigations on where the four individuals were exposed to the virus, the communities of Cambridge, Newton, Somerville, and Watertown in Middlesex County were elevated to high risk for West Nile virus. Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Sudbury, Waltham, Wayland, Weston, and Winchester, all in Middlesex County, were elevated to moderate risk. The municipalities of Dighton, Fall River, and Swansea in Bristol County were also elevated to moderate risk.Health officials said most West Nile virus activity this year has been focused in an area around Boston and includes parts of Norfolk, Middlesex, and Essex counties. There had been three cases of West Nile virus already reported in Massachusetts this year. In 2019, there were five human cases of West Nile virus infection. West Nile virus is usually transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. While West Nile virus can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe disease. Most people infected with West Nile virus will have no symptoms. Updated case When present, West Nile virus symptoms tend to include fever and flu-like illness. In rare cases, more severe illness can 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 2019, there were 12 human cases of EEE in Massachusetts with six deaths.
BOSTON —
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported Thursday four additional human cases of West Nile virus in the state this year.
This brings the total number of cases to seven.
State health officials said three of the four cases are male – one in his 40s, one in this 60s and one in his 80s. Health officials said all were exposed to the West Nile virus in Middlesex County. West Nile virus was also diagnosed in a female under the age of 19 with exposure in Bristol County.
As a result of information obtained during case investigations on where the four individuals were exposed to the virus, the communities of Cambridge, Newton, Somerville, and Watertown in Middlesex County were elevated to high risk for West Nile virus.
Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Sudbury, Waltham, Wayland, Weston, and Winchester, all in Middlesex County, were elevated to moderate risk. The municipalities of Dighton, Fall River, and Swansea in Bristol County were also elevated to moderate risk.
Health officials said most West Nile virus activity this year has been focused in an area around Boston and includes parts of Norfolk, Middlesex, and Essex counties.
There had been three cases of West Nile virus already reported in Massachusetts this year.
In 2019, there were five human cases of West Nile virus infection.
West Nile virus is usually transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. While West Nile virus can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe disease.
Most people infected with West Nile virus will have no symptoms. Updated case
When present, West Nile virus symptoms tend to include fever and flu-like illness. In rare cases, more severe illness can occur
In 2019, there were 12 human cases of EEE in Massachusetts with six deaths.