Human Case of West Nile Virus Confirmed in Melrose

Information from a Melrose Health Department press release was used in this report.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced today the first confirmed human case of West Nile Virus in Melrose this year, the said in a press release.

The middle-aged woman became ill on Sept. 13 and was briefly hospitalized but has been discharged and is expected to recover, the release stated.

In August, health officials announced that a

The State Laboratory Institute performs testing for West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in mosquitoes each summer, according to the state Department of Public Health, and testing for virus infection in animal and human specimens year-round.

The Melrose pool was one of 175 pools statewide that had tested positive this summer for West Nile Virus (WNV) and 48 for EEE.

"Although serious illness caused by WNV is uncommon, there were 68 cases of WNV in Massachusetts between 2001 and 2010," the Health Department's press release stated. "There were seven human cases of WNV in 2010.  In addition to the case just identified in Melrose, there have been four other human WNV cases identified in Massachusetts this year."

West Nile is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito, according to the Health Department. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state. People over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection, but people of all ages can contract West Nile.

Precautions Against West Nile Virus

The Melrose Health Department passed on these "common-sense precautions" people can take to protect themselves:

Avoid Mosquito Bites

• 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. Otherwise, take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing.

• Clothing Can Help reduce mosquito bites. Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

• Apply Insect Repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] 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. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to 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 getting rid of 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: Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Melrose is one of 24 communities in the Eastern Middlesex Mosquito Control Program. All catchbasins have been treated to minimize mosquito breeding.  Three traps continue to monitor the quantity and type of mosquitos in the community.

Information about WNV and reports of WNV activity in Massachusetts during 2011 can be found on the MDPH website at http://www.mass.gov/dph/wnv. Recorded information about WNV is also available by calling the MDPH Public Health Information Line at 1-866-MASS-WNV (1-866-627-7968).