Wayland West Nile Risk Remains Elevated: DPH

WAYLAND, MA — Three weeks after health officials identified West Nile Virus in mosquitoes in Wayland, the town's risk for the disease remained elevated.

Wayland — along with Weston, Sudbury, Lincoln and Concord — remained in the moderate risk category on Wednesday. Wayland was at moderate risk of West Nile even before the sample was found due to higher activity levels nearby in Newton and Belmont.

Most communities south and west of Wayland were in the low risk category as of Wednesday.

Eight people in Massachusetts have tested positive for West Nile this year, and seven of them have been Middlesex County residents. The latest case was discovered in a Middlesex County man on Sept. 9.

Luckily, central Middlesex County has largely avoided any cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis this summer. Most cases this summer have either been in Plymouth County or in the Springfield area. Five people across the state have contracted EEE this season.

Still, Wayland health officials have warned local residents to guard against mosquito bites by wearing long-sleeve shirts and pants, and repellents containing chemicals like DEET, permethrin or picaridin.