Is West Nile Virus Coming to Lexington?

Patch offers mosquito prevention tips, and the map below shows the number of West Nile 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 …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Sep. 10

Meetings, mosquitoes and more today in Lexington.

1. BOS Agenda: The Board of Selectmen meets at 7 p.m. this evening, and its agenda includes a presentation from the Veterans Officer, and discussions about Fire Department staffing and a fall Town Meeting. 2. Mosquito Update: The town of Lexington has provided an update on mosquito borne illness. While there have been no reported human cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) or Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in Lexington, WNV has been detected in mosquitoes from Lexington and neighboring communitites and the risk continues to be high in the fall as WNV-infected mosquitoes persist until the first hard frost. EEE, meanwhile, has not been found in mosquitoes in Lexington or any adjacent communities, but it has been found in mosquitoes as close as …

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2012 Human Cases of West Nile Virus in Massachusetts Surpass 2011

A Middlesex County woman in her 30s is the latest infected with West Nile Virus, according to the Massachusetts Health and Human Services Department. Nine human cases of West Nile Virus have been found in Massachusetts, compared to six in 2011.

A Middlesex County woman in her 30s is the latest infected by West Nile Virus, according to a press statement by the Massachusetts Health and Human Services Department. The woman is the most recent human case of West Nile Virus, according to the statement. Nine human cases of West Nile Virus have been found in Massachusetts, compared to six in 2011. “These results show that the threat of mosquito-borne illness remains a serious concern across the state,” said DPH State Epidemiologist Dr. Al DeMaria in the statement. “We need to continue to take steps to protect ourselves against mosquito bites: use insect repellant, cover up, and avoid outdoor activities at dusk and after nightfall when mosquitoes are at their most active.” Meanwhile, a …

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Three More West Nile Cases in Middlesex County

Threat level raised in Lexington as state health officials urge the public to take precautions against West Nile virus.

Three more human cases of West Nile Virus have been confirmed in Middlesex County and the threat level is being raised in several communitites, including Lexington, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.  In response, the DPH has raised the WNV threat level to "high" in the following communities: Chelsea, Everett, Lexington, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Revere, Saugus and Winthrop. The threat level is being raised to "moderate" in several other area town, including Bedford, Burlington, Lincoln, Stoneham, Wakefield, Waltham, Winchester and Woburn. In early August, West Nile was found in a Lexington mosquito pool. WNV mosquito cases have been confirmed in 97 towns statewide this year and the state on pace to have the …

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More Human Cases of West Nile Reported

West Nile Virus-infected mosquitoes have been found in 67 communities from nine counties so far during 2012.

A Newton woman on Wednesday became the fourth confirmed human case of West Nile Virus in the state, according to the Massachusetts Deptartment of Health and Human Services. Earlier this week, an unidentified Cambridge man in his 70s became Middlesex County's second confirmed case of a human infected by the West Nile Virus this year, according to the state's Department of Health and Human Services. "The announcement is a compelling indicator that the threat of mosquito-borne illness is widespread, and people should continue taking simple, common-sense steps to protect themselves and their families against mosquito bites," DPH Commissioner John Auerbach said in statement. "Use insect repellant, cover exposed skin, and avoid outdoor …

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West Nile Discovered in Lexington Mosquito Pool

The following announcement was provided by the town of Lexington's Health Division.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced this week that West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Lexington, Belmont, Waltham, Framingham, Boston and Arlington. WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection. Culex mosquitoes are the primary vectors or carriers of West Nile Virus. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state, and are found in urban as well as more rural areas. Culex mosquitoes need shallow stagnant water to reproduce. While most mosquito species develop in wetlands, Culex mosquitoes prefer urban …

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About Town

About Town: West Nile Threat Increases

Carrying mosquitoes found in more towns around Lexington.

Oh great, now we really have to slather on the bug repellant (hopefully green and environmentally safe). Recently, we reported that West Nile was found in Arlington, which is a little to close to home.  The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released a statement alerting residents that Burlington and Belmont also tested positive for West Nile. Following that news, Health Department Director Gerard Cody today issued an updated press release. I'll relay some, I'll give you the link at the end of the article.  Here's the good news: "Lexington has not had any WNV positive mosquito or human cases so far this season," the press release stated. It's followed by not-so-good news: "Although WNV has not been detected in Lexington yet this …

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Public Health Officials Respond to West Nile in Arlington

No mosquito or human cases in Lexington so far this year.

A day after the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced West Nile Virus (WNV) was detected in mosquitoes collected in Arlington, Lexington’s public health officials released the following information about WNV and avoiding mosquito bites.  Lexington has not had any WNV-positive mosquitoes or human cases so far this season, according to the Health Division. Statewide last year, 3,558 mosquito samples were tested for WNV and, as a result, only 121 samples were positive. WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection. Culex mosquitoes are the primary vectors of WNV, which is …

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PatchCast

PatchCast: Dangerous Mosquitoes, Post Offices Under Review and ‘This Old House’

A video roundup of the area's latest developments for Wednesday, July 27.

Follow the links below for more on today's featured headlines:

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