Health & Fitness
Human West Nile Virus Case Detected In Worcester
A wide-area pesticide spray has been scheduled.
WORCESTER, MA — A human West Nile Virus case has been detected in Worcester, according to a news release from the city.
As a result, the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project will conduct a wide-area pesticide spray on Thursday, Sept. 18, after 7:30 p.m. However, the risk level for WNV in the city remains moderate.
The following areas will be sprayed:
Find out what's happening in Worcesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Amherst Street
- Audubon Road
- Beeching Street
- Berwick Lane
- Berwick Street
- Chamberlain Parkway
- Colonial Road
- Cornell Street
- Fenwick Street
- Field Way
- Flagg Street
- Frontenac Road
- Gaskill Road
- Gingerbread Trail
- Guild Road
- Hadwen Lane
- Hanna Road
- Intervale Road
- Iowa Street
- Ivanhoe Road
- Kenilworth Road
- Kensington Heights
- Kensington Road
- Lenox Street
- Lull Street
- Maplewood Road
- Morningside Road
- Pleasant Street
- Raleigh Road
- Richmond Avenue
- Rittenhouse Road
- Saint Elmo Road
- South Flagg Street
- South Lenox Street
- Tahanto Road
- Ureco Terrace
- Vassar Street
- Westbrook Circle
- Westbrook Road
- Westview Road
A full map of the areas being sprayed can be found here.
During that time, residents are advised to close windows and turn off any outside air settings on air conditioners. Additionally, the city is asking residents to stay in and keep their pets inside during the spray.
Find out what's happening in Worcesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Related: Drought In Worcester, City Enforces Water Restrictions
To avoid mosquito bites and the diseases they carry, residents are encouraged to practice the 5 Ds:
- Dress in long sleeves and pants when possible.
- Deet is an effective insect repellent.
- Dawn and Dusk are the most active periods for mosquitoes.
- Drain water from containers weekly.
Most people infected with the West Nile Virus will have no symptoms, but some could experience fever or flu-like illness. In the most severe cases, the virus can be deadly.
Last week, there had been four confirmed human WNV infections so far this season, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
“Given how many mosquitoes have been found carrying West Nile virus this summer, we expected that there would be human infections this year,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “Infections can continue to occur until the first hard frost of the season, which is likely still many weeks away."
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