Three More West Nile Cases Confirmed in Middlesex County

Three more human cases of West Nile Virus have been confirmed in Middlesex County, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. 

In response, the DPH has raised the WNV threat level to "high" in the following communities: Chelsea, Everett, Lexington, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Revere, Saugus and Winthrop.

Earlier this week, DPH officials raised the threat level to "high" in Newton . 

Also, the threat level is being raised to "moderate" in other towns: Bedford, Burlington, Lincoln, Stoneham, Wakefield, Winchester and Woburn.

WNV mosquito cases have been confirmed in 97 towns statewide this year and the state is on pace to having the highest number of WNV cases since 2000, according to the DPH. 

Last month, .

WNV cases are up 40 percent since last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Wednesday. 

As of Aug. 28, 48 states have reported WNV infections in people, birds or mosquitoes, according to the CDC, with 1,590 cases of human infection — including 66 deaths — reported to the CDC. Of those human cases, 56 percent were classified as neuroinvasive disease, such as meningitis or encephalitis, and 44 percent were classified as non-neuroinvasive disease.

Below are precautions to take against contracting WNV, as recommended by the DPH: 

Avoid Mosquito Bites

• Apply Insect Repellent when Outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] or IR3535 according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.
• Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning.
• Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home

• Drain Standing Water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change water in birdbaths frequently.
• Install or Repair Screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Protect Your Animals

Animal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools — especially after heavy rains. Water troughs provide excellent mosquito breeding habitats and should be flushed out at least once a week during the summer months to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas. Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitoes. If an animal is diagnosed with WNV or EEE, owners are required to report to DAR, Division of Animal Health by calling 617-626-1795 and to the Department of Public Health (DPH) by calling 617-983-6800.

More information, including all WNV and EEE positive results from 2012, can be found on the Arbovirus Surveillance Information web page at www.mass.gov/dph/wnv or by calling the DPH Epidemiology Program at 617-983-6800. The findings of the DPH Eastern Equine Encephalitis Expert Panel can be found here: