The Boston Public Health Commission recently announced that the city has tested a pool of mosquitoes positive for West Nile Virus.
Health officials said that the tests were performed earlier this week and confirmed a positive mosquito pool found in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood. However, no human case of West Nile or other mosquito-borne diseases have been reported in Boston in 2014.
"Periods of hot weather and heavy rain can contribute to the appearance of West Nile, and people should take some simple precautions to avoid mosquito bites," Public Health Commission Infectious Disease Bureau director Dr. Anita Barry said. The virus "poses very low risk to most people."
Heavy rains and hot weather contribute to the emergence of the virus. The Public Health Commission listed a couple of precautions for people to follow and avoid being infected by insects. West Nile Virus is commonly transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.
The commission's statement suggests people to use insect repellants with lemon eucalyptus oil, IR535 or DEET especially from dusk to dawn and when outdoors. This is the time and place where mosquitoes are more likely to bite. The commission also suggests people to wear pants and long sleeves when possible.
People must also proof their homes by ensuring that their door and window screens are in good condition. If not, they should repair it to prevent the mosquitoes from getting in the house. People should also turnover unused buckets, flowerpots, garbage cans and wheelbarrows. Take out leaves and any other debris which may clog gutters and lock in water, cover unused swimming pools and cover or dispose of old tires to prevent the mosquitoes from breeding further. Pet owners are also reminded to protect their pets.
The city of Boston and the Suffolk County Mosquito Control Project placed larvicide in some areas which could be prone to mosquitoes. They also performed truck-mounted aerosol spraying in some areas to control the population of mosquitoes.
The announcement is the first this summer. Infected mosquitoes have appeared in Boston yearly since 2000 and are most active from July to September.
