West Nile Virus Found In Worcester Mosquito Sample

WORCESTER, MA — State health officials this week detected West Nile Virus in a mosquito sample taken near lower Grove Street, the first such instance in the city of the rare but potentially serious disease so far this summer.

Two samples taken July 19 tested positive, according to the state Department of Public Health. The Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project was planning to spray Thursday night in an area between Edgeworth and Salisbury streets west of I-190 to control the mosquito population. The truck-mounted spraying will happen Friday night in case of adverse weather.

"Worcester had four WNV positive mosquito samples and one human case identified in 2023. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection. Most people infected with WNV will have no symptoms, although some may experience fever, flu-like illness, and — in rare cases — more severe illness," city officials said in a news release.

The risk of human WNV in the Worcester area was still rated "low" as of Thursday, according to DPH.

The positive Worcester samples are among 27 found so far this summer across Massachusetts. The state has also confirmed 14 positive Eastern Equine Encephalitis samples in mosquitoes so far this summer, but all have been found in Plymouth County.