Friday, June 14, 2013
Patch offers mosquito prevention tips, and the map below shows the number of cases last summer.
After a particularly tough year for the West Nile virus in 2012, Massachusetts health officials are bracing for what could be another busy summer for the mosquito-borne illness. Although, with so many factors playing into the problem, the track of West Nile is not an easy one to predict, said Kevin Cranston, director of the Bureau of Infectious Disease for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. “We can’t pin down all of the elements that go into why one season is bad and another season is not,” Cranston said. But if this summer is similar to last summer—marked by extended periods of very hot weather—some parts of the state could see a high number of cases as occurred in 2012. To give residents a sense of West Nile’s prevalence in …
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
The most recent victim marks the third human case of West Nile Virus in Boston this season.
The Boston Public Health Commission announced on Tuesday another confirmed human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) this year. The victim, a Boston resident in his 50’s, was hospitalized but has been released. Officials say it is unclear at this time where it was contracted. This most recent case is the third Boston resident this summer to become infected with West Nile Virus this season. Earlier this month, a woman in her 50’s from Beacon Hill and a man in his 40’s from Dorchester were both hospitalized with WNV and released. There haven't been any cases yet in the South End, although mosquito pools have tested positive for the virus in several Boston neighborhoods. “It’s clear that mosquitoes aren’t gone yet,” said Dr. Anita Barry, director…
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
A Dorchester man in his 40s, was hospitalized, but has been released. It is unclear at this time where he contracted the infection.
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Tuesday, September 18, 2012
The following is an announcement from the Boston Public Health Commission. It has not been edited. The Boston Public Health Commission today announced a second confirmed human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in a Boston resident this year. The case, a Dorchester man in his 40s, was hospitalized, but has been released. It is unclear at this time where he contracted the infection. Earlier this month, a woman in her 50s from Beacon Hill, was hospitalized with WNV and released. Because the woman traveled prior to becoming ill, it is unclear where she acquired the infection. Last month, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health elevated the WNV threat level for Boston and several surrounding communities after confirming other human cases of …
Friday, August 24, 2012
A Cambridge man in his 70s is hospitalized with the disease. He represents the second human case of West Nile Virus confirmed in the state this year.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Thursday raised the threat level for West Nile Virus in Boston to high. The move comes after a Cambridge man in his 70s was confirmed to have West Nile Virus, according to an announcement from the public health department. He represents the second confirmed human case of West Nile Virus in the state this year. The first case, confirmed on Aug. 15, was also discovered in a Cambridge resident, according to the announcement. The most recent West Nile Virus patient is currently hospitalized, the announcement says. The Department of Public Health has also raised the threat level to high in Cambridge, Arlington, Belmont, Somerville, Brookline and Watertown. A "high" threat level means multiple cases…
Thursday, August 9, 2012
West Nile Virus can be found anywhere in Boston, so here's some ways to protect yourself from mosquito bites.
Mosquito pools in nearby Back Bay/Fens tested positive Thursday for West Nile Virus, along with pools in South Dorchester. In June and July samples were also found in Jamaica Plain, West Robury, Hyde Park, East Boston, North Dorchester and Roslindale. However, there have been no confirmed human cases yet this year. “As we have seen so far this summer, mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus can be found anywhere in Boston," said Dr. Anita Barry, director the Infectious Disease Bureau at the Public Health Commission. "It’s very important than people take some simple precautions to avoid mosquito bites." The city has been applying larvicide in catch basins throughout Boston to reduce the adult mosquito population, but you should also do …
