GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced on Friday that the West Nile Virus has been detected in mosquitoes collected in Greenfield.

The Greenfield Health Department is working with the state DPH on the situation. Here is the official press release from the City of Greenfield:

West Nile Virus Detected from Mosquitoes in Greenfield

GREENFIELD – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today that the West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Greenfield, Massachusetts.

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.

Symptoms of WNV include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or a rash. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.

Here are important precautions people in the region should take to avoid WNV:

Avoid Mosquito Bites

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours – The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. When risk is increased, consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during 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.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home

  • Drain Standing Water – Many 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. You can also purchase mosquito dunk to prevent mosquitoes from habituating in standing water.
  • Install or Repair Screens – Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all your windows and doors.

The Greenfield Health Department continues to work closely with the MDPH and other agencies in regard to this discovery. Information about WNV and reports of current and historical WNV virus activity in Massachusetts can be found on the MDPH website at: www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito

“We are approaching the discovery of West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes in Greenfield with extreme precaution,” said Mayor Virginia “Ginny” Desorgher. “I want to thank the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Greenfield Health Department for their proactive efforts to share this critical information across our community. We encourage everyone to follow the important West Nile virus safety tips.”