West Nile Virus Detected In Swampscott Mosquitoes

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — The Swampscott Health Department is urging residents to take extra precautions when outside — especially in wooded areas and around the times of dusk and down — after Swampscott became the latest North Shore city or town where mosquitoes tested positive for West Nile virus.

Swampscott had no positive mosquito tests last year but is one of the growing areas where the virus has been detected in what has been the biggest outbreak of insect-borne viruses, including Eastern Equine Encephalitis, in recent years.

The 11th human case of West Nile virus in Massachusetts this year was confirmed Friday, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The person is a man in his 60s with recent out-of-state travel, meaning the exact location of exposure is uncertain, health officials said.

However, there is a possibility he could have been exposed within the Greater Boston area, which is already known to be at high risk for WNV.

Both West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis, another virus affecting people in Massachusetts this season, are transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.

"It may be mid-September, but warm and humid weather continues across Massachusetts, keeping the risk of both EEE and West Nile elevated," Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. said on Friday.

Residents throughout the state are advised to avoid going outdoors, especially in wooded areas, around the hours of dusk and dawn when mosquito activity is highest and to wear long clothing when out at those times.

The state DPH advised the use of a repellent with DEET, permethrin, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, according to the instructions on the product label.

Residents are also asked to clear standing water on properties that can be used as mosquito breeding areas.

"There will continue to be risk from mosquito-borne disease until the first hard frost, and I encourage everyone to continue to take measures to protect themselves," Goldstein said.

(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.)