West Nile Virus Found in JP

Posted by Bret Silverberg 

Officials have confirmed a positive test for West Nile Virus from a mosquito pool nearby in Jamaica Plain.

The Boston Public Health Commission said Thursday the test was confirmed earlier this week and is the first confirmed report of West Nile Virus in Boston this summer.

The commission said there have been no human cases reported this summer.

 “It’s again the time of year when it’s not surprising to find mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus in Boston,” said Dr. Anita Barry, director the Infectious Disease Bureau at the Boston Public Health Commission, in a statement.  “The recent combination of hot weather and rain likely contributed to West Nile appearing when it did, and people should take some simple precautions to avoid mosquito bites.”

These steps include using insect repellant when outdoors, especially from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are more likely to be biting and, when possible, wearing clothing that includes long sleeves and pants, the statement says.

More from the Boston Public Health Commission:

To prevent mosquitoes from breeding, the Boston Public Health Commission advises people to turn over unused flower pots, buckets, wheelbarrows, and garbage cans; remove leaves and other debris that can clog gutters and trap water; dispose of or cover old tires; and cover swimming pools when not in use.

The City of Boston, in partnership with the Suffolk County Mosquito Control Project, has placed larvicide in catch basins and wetlands, a process designed to reduce the mosquito population.  Targeted, truck-mounted aerosol spraying will also be performed to help control the mosquito population in certain areas of Boston.

Brookline Patch will contact local health officials for their statement this week on West Nile Virus prevention measures.