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9-03-2025 4:42pm
Season’s Second Human Case of West Nile Virus in Massachusetts is in Essex County
Darlene Cancell
Editor
BOSTON (September 3, 2025) – The second human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Massachusetts this year is a woman in her 60s who was exposed in Essex County, announced the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) on Wednesday, September 3rd.
This new case follows DPH’s announcement just one day earlier of the state’s first known human case of WNV this season. In that case, a woman in her 70s was exposed in Middlesex County.
There has also been one animal case of WNV this year in a goat.
In Norfolk County, according to updated information from DPH dated September 2, the risk of exposure to WNV remains moderate except in Brookline, where the risk level is now high. Brookline is one of about ten communities in the state where WNV risk levels have increased since DPH's last publicly released assessment.
The risk level for Eastern Equine Encephalitis remains remote to low throughout Norfolk County. In Massachusetts, there have been 21 Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE)-positive mosquito samples and no human or animal cases so far this year.
Westwood Minute has excerpted local data from DPH's records into the table below, showing the risk of WNV and EEE in the Westwood area:
|
Town |
EEE Risk Level |
WNV Risk Level |
|
Brookline |
Remote |
High |
|
Canton |
Low |
Moderate |
|
Dedham |
Remote |
Moderate |
|
Dover |
Low |
Moderate |
|
Foxborough |
Moderate |
Moderate |
|
Medfield |
Low |
Moderate |
|
Medway |
Low |
Moderate |
|
Millis |
Low |
Moderate |
|
Milton |
Remote |
Moderate |
|
Needham |
Remote |
Moderate |
|
Norwood |
Low |
Moderate |
|
Walpole |
Low |
Moderate |
|
Westwood |
Low |
Moderate |
Source: Mass.gov, Department of Public Health and Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, 2025 EEE and WNV risk level and data.
DPH recommends ways to avoid illness from WNV or EEE with the following tips:
Avoid Mosquito Bites
Apply Insect Repellent when Outdoors. Use a repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient, such as DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), or oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) or IR3535) according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.
Be Mindful of Peak Mosquito Hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during these hours of higher risk.
Wear Protective Clothing. Long sleeves, long pants and socks can help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
Mosquito-Proof Your Home
Drain Standing Water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty unused flowerpots and wading pools and change the water in birdbaths frequently.
Install or Repair Screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly fitting screens on all windows and doors and repair holes in screens.
Protect Your Animals
Remove Standing Water. Animal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools – especially after heavy rains. Water troughs provide excellent mosquito breeding habitats and should be flushed out to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas. Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitoes.
Owners should also speak with their veterinarian about mosquito repellents approved for use in animals and vaccinations to prevent WNV and EEE. If an animal is suspected of having WNV or EEE, owners are required to report to the Department of Agricultural Resources, Division of Animal Health by calling 617-626-1795, and to the Department of Public Health by calling 617-983-6800.
Updated 9/3/2025 at 8:38 p.m.
