West Nile Virus Found In Worcester Mosquitoes, Spraying To Follow

WORCESTER, MA — West Nile Virus was confirmed in mosquitoes in Worcester this week, according to city officials.

A mosquito sample taken in the Burncoat area tested positive for the virus, which can be transferred to humans through mosquito stings. No human cases have been confirmed in Worcester, according to the state Department of Public Health.

The Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project will visit the area between Mountain Street, Route 12, Fales Street and Quinapoxet Lane on July 18 to spray insecticide, according to city officials.

The state detected the first West Nile-positive mosquito of the summer in Brookline last week. The risk of contracting West Nile — and Eastern Equine Encephalitis — was still "low" as of Thursday statewide, according to risk maps published by the state.

According to state health officials, WNV is a mosquito-carried virus that can cause illnesses ranging from a mild fever to more serious diseases like encephalitis or meningitis. It was first identified in the U.S. in 1999 and is most commonly spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito.

About 80 percent of people who contract West Nile show no symptoms, health officials say. About 20 percent develop a fever, body aches and gastrointestinal distress. And about 1 percent develop either encephalitis or meningitis, which can lead to coma and paralysis in rare cases.