Mosquitoes in Jamaica Plain Test Positive for West Nile Virus

A mosquito pool in Jamaica Plain has tested positive for West Nile Virus for the first time this summer, the Boston Public Health Commission said Tuesday.

West Nile Virus is commonly transmitted to humans through bites of mosquitoes infected with the virus. No human cases of the mosquito-borne illness have been reported in Boston thus far, and the virus itself is of low-risk to most people, the BPHC said.

“This is the time of year when we often begin to find mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus in Boston,” Dr. Anita Barry, director of the Infectious Disease Bureau at the Boston Public Health Commission, said in a statement Tuesday. “Periods of hot weather and heavy rain can contribute to the appearance of West Nile, and people should take some simple precautions to avoid mosquito bites.”

Among the BPHC’s recommended safety tips, area residents should practice the following:

1) Use insect repellent when outdoors, especially from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are more likely to be biting.

2) Wear long-sleeves and pants.

3) Mosquito-proof your hoe by making sure your window and door screens are in good condition to prevent mosquitoes from getting into the house.

Residents should also turn over unused flower pots, buckets, wheelbarrows and garbage cans, and remove leaves and other debris that can clog gutters, as well as trap water, in addition to disposing old tires and covering swimming pools when not in use, the BPHC said.

More information on WNV and ways to protect yourself can be found here.

For more information on WNV, call the Boston Public Health Commission at 617-534-5611or visit www.bphc.org/mbi.