Health & Fitness
Second Worcester Mosquito Sample Positive For West Nile Virus
Officials said that the city's West Nile virus risk level remains low.
WORCESTER, MA —Another mosquito sample from Worcester has tested positive, prompting a second round of spraying.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health detected West Nile virus in mosquitoes collected from a Worcester trap site, different from the sample that tested positive last week. The Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project is now scheduled to conduct truck-mounted pesticide spraying on Thursday in the general area where the positive sample was found.
Here is a map showing the areas to be sprayed on Thursday, weather permitting.
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The city’s West Nile virus risk level remains low, officials said.
CMMCP is also tentatively scheduled to spray in Worcester on Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 25. Those dates may change due to weather, mosquito populations, virus activity, or special-event spraying.
Residents may opt out of wide-area pesticide spraying through the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources website here.
City officials said residents in areas scheduled for spraying will be notified by email, social media and text.
Residents in spray areas are advised to close street-facing windows, turn off outside-air settings on air conditioners, keep pets inside between sunset and midnight and stay indoors during spraying and for 15 to 20 minutes afterward. Officials also recommend washing vegetables from home gardens after spraying and before eating them.
CMMCP also offers ditch maintenance, abandoned swimming pool treatment and other mosquito control services. Residents can request services at cmmcp.org or call (508) 393-3055 between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
West Nile virus can infect people of all ages, but people over 50 are at higher risk for severe illness. Most people infected have no symptoms, though some may develop fever or flu-like symptoms, and rare cases can become severe.
Residents can reduce mosquito risk by wearing long sleeves and pants when possible, using insect repellent, avoiding outdoor activity at dawn and dusk and draining standing water from containers each week. More information is available from MDPH here.
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