Year's First Human West Nile Virus Case Confirmed

State health officials on Friday announced the year's first human case of West Nile virus.

The man who contracted the mosquito-borne virus is in his 50s, the Department of Public Health said. He was likely exposed to it in southwestern Essex County or eastern Middlesex County.

"This is the first time that West Nile virus infection has been identified in a person in Massachusetts this year," said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel. "Today’s news reminds us of the ongoing need to take precautions against mosquito bites to protect ourselves and our families."

The threat of West Nile in Massachusetts is still "generally low," the DPH said.

Last year there were five human cases of West Nile identified in Massachusetts.

Symptoms are typically fever and flu-like illness, though they can be more severe, particularly in people over 50. Most people have no symptoms from West Nile.

The year's first human case of Eastern equine encephalitis — or EEE — was reported earlier this week in a Middleboro boy under the age of 18.