Crime & Safety
West Nile Virus Case Confirmed In Worcester As Risk Stays Moderate
Mosquito control crews will spray this week, with more dates expected in August.
WORCESTER, MA — A human case of West Nile virus has been detected in Worcester, prompting city mosquito control crews to plan to spray parts of the city this week.
The Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project has scheduled truck-mounted pesticide applications for Thursday, weather permitting, in the general area where the WNV case was reported. Worcester’s WNV risk level remains moderate, the city said.
CMMCP is also tentatively scheduled to spray in Worcester on Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 25. Those dates may change depending on weather, mosquito populations, virus activity or special-event spraying.
The city said residents in areas scheduled for spraying will be notified through email, social media and text alerts. Residents who want those notices should ensure they are registered for ALERTWorcester and have up-to-date contact information.
Residents may opt out of having their property sprayed during wide-area pesticide applications by following instructions on the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources website.
During spraying, residents are advised to close street-facing windows, turn off outside-air settings on air conditioners, keep pets indoors between sunset and midnight, remain inside during the application and for 15 to 20 minutes afterward and wash vegetables from home gardens before eating them.
City officials said accidental exposure is not expected to cause health problems for most people. Residents with chemical sensitivities or preexisting conditions that could be aggravated by spraying should consult a physician and take steps to avoid exposure.
To reduce mosquito bites, residents should wear long sleeves and pants when possible, use insect repellent with DEET according to label instructions, avoid outdoor activity at dawn and dusk and drain standing water from containers weekly.
West Nile virus can infect people of all ages, but people over 50 are at higher risk for severe infection. Most people infected have no symptoms, though some may develop fever or flu-like illness and rare cases can become severe, according to the city.
The Worcester Division of Public Health works with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and other agencies to monitor WNV and other mosquito-borne illnesses.
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