| Newton MA News and Politics BlogJust when I was beginning to get numb to the strangeness of 2020, this arrived

From the mayor’s email newsletter

High Risk of West Nile Virus

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health today announced additional West Nile (WNV) virus cases in people in Middlesex County, where Newton is located. MDPH does not report human case information by city/town, rather by county and by age decade.

Newton’s risk for West Nile virus has changed from moderate to high.

This news is an important reminder to continue to prevent mosquito bites, especially as routines change with the fall season and our types and timing of outdoor activity also potentially change. Use insect repellent, consider wearing clothing to prevent bites such as long sleeves and long pants, and limit outdoor activity during the peak mosquito biting times from dusk to dawn. Drain standing water around your home and repair screens to prevent mosquitos from coming indoors.

Information about WNV and reports of current and historical WNV virus activity in Massachusetts are on the MDPH website at mass.gov/dph/mosquito.