State: West Nile Virus Confirmed in Belmont

A mosquito sample collected in Belmont last Thursday has tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to the state Department of Public Health (DPH).

The sample was collected on Aug. 19 in Belmont, and West Nile Virus-positive samples were also found in collections that day in Arlington, Lexington and Burlington.

Burlington also had two samples test positive on Aug. 5, while two samples each in Waltham and Cambridge, and one in Newton, also tested positive for West Nile Virus on Aug. 17, and according to information on the DPH's website.

The culex pipiens mosquito – the species found in all Middlesex Couty samples this summer – mainly feeds on birds, though it also feeds on humans.

Belmont Health Department Director Stefan Russakow discussed last month ways residents can limit the threat of West Nile Virus at http://patch.com/A-ysG 

Information released yesterday by the Lexington Office of Community Development, Health Division, says this is Lexington's first positive mosquito sample this year. No samples tested positive for the virus in 2009, while one sample tested positive in 2008.

The state tested 3,410 mosquito samples in 2009, with 26 coming back positive for West Nile Virus. The state conducts routine testing of mosquitoes for West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis beginning in late June.

In total this summer, 16 mosquito samples including the one found in Belmont have tested positive for West Nile Virus in Middlesex County, including in Arlington (July 15 and Aug. 19),  Burlington (Aug. 5 and 19), Cambridge (Aug. 17), Chelmsford (Aug. 11), Lexington (Aug. 19), Medford (Aug. 10), Newton (Aug. 17) and Waltham (Aug. 3 and 17), according to the DPH.

Residents are advised to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites, and more information is available on the DPH's website, or by calling the Public Health Information Line at 1-866-627-7968.