Massachusetts DoH detects West Nile Virus in mosquito sample from Mattapoisett

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today that West Niles virus (WNV) has been detected in a mosquito collected from Mattapoisett.

WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state and are found in urban as well as more rural areas. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection.

While the Mattapoisett Board of Health continues to work closely with the MDPH and other agencies, residents may find additional information about WNV and reports of current and historical WNV activity in Massachusetts on the MDPH website: www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito.