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BOSTON (AP) — The potentially dangerous West Nile virus has been detected in Massachusetts for the first time this year, state public health officials said.
Mosquito samples collected at Easton on Monday confirmed the presence of the virus, which is usually transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, according to a statement from the Department of Public Health.
No human or animal cases of West Nile have been confirmed in the state so far this year. According to the department, there were 11 human cases of West Nile last year.
According to the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people infected with the virus do not feel sick. According to the agency, about one in five people who become infected develop a fever and other flu-like symptoms, and about one in 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.
State epidemiologist Dr. Katherine Brown said residents can take simple steps to avoid mosquito bites, including using an appropriate insect repellent when outside, covering exposed skin, removing standing water where mosquitoes breed, And that includes repairing window curtains.