SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP) – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced Thursday that a positive sample of West Nile Virus (WNV) was detected from mosquitoes in the towns of Hadley and South Hadley last week.
The sample tested positive for WNV on Friday. Despite the latest testing, the risk level of the virus remains low in Hadley and South Hadley.
The Hadley Board of Health says you can protect yourself from mosquito bites by doing the following:
- Use insect repellents any time you are outdoors
- Wear long-sleeved clothing
- Schedule outdoor activities to avoid the hours from dusk to dawn during peak mosquito season
- Repair damaged window and door screens
- Remove standing water from the areas around your home
The Department of Public Health conducts EEE and WNV testing in mosquitos across the state weekly. So far this year in Massachusetts, there have been zero human or animal cases of EEE or WNV.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 providing local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Follow 22News on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
