Second MA West Nile Virus Case Confirmed In Essex County

DANVERS, MA — A second Massachusetts human case of West Nile Virus was confirmed on Thursday, with a woman in her 60s contracting WNV, according to the Department of Public Health.

The confirmation comes days after the Mass DPH confirmed the first case of the season in a man in his 70s in Middlesex County and within weeks of two mosquito batches in Danvers testing positive for WNV.

• More North Shore West Nile Virus-Positive Mosquitoes As Threat Level Rises

"Massachusetts is in peak season for the spread of West Nile virus," said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein. "While the temperatures have dropped slightly, this is the time of year when most people get exposed to the virus. We encourage everyone to use mosquito repellent, to wear clothing to reduce exposed skin, and to empty anything that may be collecting water outside your home."

The first WNV-positive mosquitoes in the state this year were announced on June 17. Since then, 364 mosquito samples have tested positive for WNV so far this season from Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester counties. There has also been one animal case of WNV this year in a goat.

The risk for WNV is now high in 20 municipalities in Suffolk, Middlesex, and Essex counties and moderate in 183 cities and towns in Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester counties.

Mass DPH has elevated the risk of WNV to high in Belmont, Cambridge, Everett, Malden, Melrose, Revere, Saugus, Somerville, Wakefield, and Watertown, as of Thursday morning.

In addition to WNV, Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) has also been detected in mosquitoes in Massachusetts this year. There have been 21 EEE-positive mosquito samples and no human or animal cases so far this year.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)