Health & Fitness
West Nile Virus Appears In Worcester Area
Special mosquito spraying will take place in the area of Worcester where the mosquitoes were found.
WORCESTER, MA — Mosquitoes collected in a Worcester neighborhood have tested positive for West Nile Virus, a potentially serious illness in humans that causes flu-like symptoms — and neurological symptoms in rare cases.
The West Nile-positive mosquitoes were from northeast Worcester in the Greendale and Burncoat neighborhoods. The Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project will soon visit the area between Burncoat Street, West Boylston Street and Dodge Park to spray insecticide, according to city officials.
So far this summer, mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile in just under 30 communities across the state. In Worcester County, Millbury is the only other community that has turned up a positive sample.
Even with the positive local samples, the state Department of Public Health says the risk of contracting West Nile is "low" in the Worcester area. The Boston area has the highest risk level in the state at "moderate."
According to health officials, about 80 percent of people who contract West Nile show no symptoms. About 20 percent develop a fever, body aches and gastrointestinal distress. And about 1 percent develop either encephalitis or meningitis, which can lead to coma and paralysis in rare cases.
To avoid mosquito bites, Health officials say residents should wear bug repellent and avoid outdoor activity at dawn and dusk, which are the most active times for mosquitoes.
