Second case of West Nile virus reported in Mass., also in Middlesex County

A second human case of West Nile virus in the state this year was announced Monday.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced the second person in the state to be diagnosed with the virus this year, a man in his 60s, was exposed in Middlesex County.

This comes just days after the announcement of the first human case in the state this year, which was also in Middlesex County, and after two mosquitoes tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis virus in Plymouth County.

The risk of West Nile virus was elevated to high in Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Everett, Newton, Somerville, and Watertown on Monday, the department said. Last week, the risk of West Nile virus was elevated to a moderate level in 70 communities across Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Worcester counties, the department said.

“I want to remind everyone to continue to use repellent, cover up with clothing when the weather permits, consider moving indoors during dusk to dawn hours when mosquitoes are biting, and make sure to empty anything that may be collecting water outside your home,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein.

The first mosquito that tested positive for West Nile virus in the state was detected on June 16. Since then, 180 mosquitoes with the virus have been detected across Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester counties, the department said.

The state maintains an online map of where the risk of West Nile virus and EEE is highest in the state.