West Nile virus found in Abington mosquitoes
The West Nile virus was detected in mosquitoes found in Abington, public health officials announced this week.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said Tuesday that the virus was found in collected insect samples. The department did not report any human infections.
The majority of people who get the disease, most commonly transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, do not have symptoms. Those that do can experience a fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More severe symptoms include encephalitis, also known as swelling of the brain, or meningitis, which is swelling of membranes around the brain or spinal cord.
People over 50 are at higher risk for severe infection compared to others.
While the state reported a low risk of infection for Abington, elsewhere in the South Shore had moderate risk of infection, including Plymouth, Kingston, Pembroke and Hanson.
To reduce your risk of exposure, use insect repellent when going outdoors and wear long sleeves and pants. Also, drain standing water around your home and fix broken screens in your doors and windows.
Hannah Morse covers growth and development for The Patriot Ledger. Contact her at hmorse@patriotledger.com.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Mosquitoes in Abington found with West Nile virus
