State Confirms Presence Of West Nile Virus In Tewksbury

TEWKSBURY, MA -- Add Tewksbury to the growing list of eastern Massachusetts towns with confirmed cases of West Nile virus in mosquitos. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed on Wednesday the presence of the virus in a sample of mosquitos collected in Tewksbury.

West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans by bites from mosquitos commonly found throughout Massachusetts. While about 75% of the people infected with West Nile experience no symptoms, about 20% of people develop a fever, headache, vomiting, or a rash. In rare cases the infection can be fatal. The virus is particularly dangerous for people over the age of 50.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health posted the following reminders on preventing mosquito bites:

• Use insect repellents
• Wear long-sleeved clothing
• Schedule outdoor activities to avoid the hours around dawn and dusk
• Repair damaged window screens
• Remove standing water from the areas around your home

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Patch file photo via Shutterstock.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).