The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced the first case of West Nile virus this year in a mosquito.
A WNV infection was confirmed by the State Laboratory Institute Wednesday in a mosquito sample collected on July 3 in the Town of Clinton.
According to the health department, there have been no human cases of WNV or eastern equine encephalitis so far this year.
State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Catherine Brown reminds residents to take proper precautions, including using mosquito repellents, wearing long loose clothing to reduce skin exposure, making sure screens are tightly fitting and dumping standing water. "Because of the very warm weather and the periodic thunderstorms we’ve been having, dumping standing water is especially important," Brown said.
WNV is usually transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.
In 2013, there were eight human cases of WNV infection identified in Massachusetts. People over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe disease.