Third Mass. West Nile Case Hits Middlesex County

SUDBURY, MA — State health officials have confirmed that a Middlesex County man in his 60s is the third person in Massachusetts this year to contract the mosquito-borne West Nile virus. Officials did not say which town the man lives in, but West Nile risk is low in most parts of the state.

This is the second case in Middlesex County this year. The first case was also a man in his 60s. A man in his 50s was exposed to West Nile in Plymouth County this year.

"We continue to emphasize the need for people to protect themselves from mosquito bites,” Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel said in a statement Thursday.

Much of the focus this year has been on Eastern equine encephalitis. But West Nile is the most common virus spread by mosquitoes. People in 46 states have been infected with West Nile so far in 2019, with a total of about 681 confirmed cases nationwide.

About one in five people develop a fever, and about one in 150 people develop a more serious, potentially deadly illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

In Massachusetts, there's only a handful of cities and towns were West Nile risk is considered "moderate" — including Boston, Worcester, and Newton. The rest of the state is at "low" risk.

EEE risk was still "critical" in communities along the Worcester and Middlesex county border as of Oct. 11. Health officials say the state needs a "hard frost" with temperatures at or below 28 degrees sustained for several hours to kill any remaining mosquitoes.