The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced Friday that West Nile virus (WNV) was detected in a mosquito collected in Tisbury August 4.
The mosquito was collected from the Veteran’s Memorial Park area in Tisbury.
“Tisbury is still considered to be low risk,” a press release by the Tisbury Board of Health stated.
West Nile, first detected in the U.S. in 1999, is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito, the release stated. It can cause illness ranging from a mild fever to serious disease like encephalitis, swelling of the brain, or meningitis, inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord, according to DPH.
“The mosquitos that carry this virus are common throughout the state and are found in urban as well as more rural areas,” the release said. “While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk of severe infection.”
The Tisbury Board of Health listed common-sense precautions: avoiding bites, using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, getting rid of standing water (where mosquitos lay their eggs) and repairing broken screens around the house, as well as being aware of peak mosquito hours, which are dusk until dawn.
“Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during the evening or early morning. If you are outdoors at any time and notice mosquitoes around you, take steps to avoid being bitten by moving indoors, covering up, and/or wearing repellant,” the release said.
The board of health also recommended getting rid of areas around houses that gather and hold water because “many mosquitos lay their eggs in standing water.” They also recommend changing water in birdbaths, clearing gutters, and installing or repairing screens, to mosquito-proof homes.
“While the Tisbury Board of Health continues to work closely with the DPH and other agencies, locally we continue to perform weekly surveillance trapping to assess risk area,” the release stated.
Information about West Nile Virus and reports of current and historical activity of the virus in Massachusetts are available online here.
