West Nile Found Again In Worcester's Grafton Hill Neighborhood

WORCESTER, MA — Health officials this week confirmed the fourth mosquito sample found in Worcester positive for West Nile virus, according to city officials.

The most recent sample was collected in the Grafton Hill neighborhood, the same area a positive sample was found in early September. Officials have also confirmed West Nile in mosquitoes captured in the northern Burncoat area on two other occasions this summer.

State health officials have raised the risk of acquiring West Nile in Worcester to "moderate." The level had been "low" for most of the summer.

The Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project will plan an extra round of mosquito spraying on Thursday evening in the Grafton Hill area, city officials said.

The new West Nile sample in Worcester comes amid an end-of-summer outbreak of mosquito-borne threats. Eastern equine encephalitis has been found in mosquitoes across southern Worcester and Hampden counties, although no human cases have been detected. Three people from Massachusetts have tested positive for West Nile this summer.

To guard against both viruses, state health officials are advising residents to take safety measures like using bug spray containing DEET, treating clothes with permethrin, avoiding peak mosquito hours around dawn and dusk and wearing pants and long sleeves. Homeowners should also drain standing water to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

Related: EEE Risk Now 'High' In 3 More MA Towns: DPH