West Nile Virus Detected from Mosquitoes in Greenfield

GREENFIELD — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced that the West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Greenfield.

WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state and are found in urban as well as more rural areas. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over age 50 are at higher risk for severe infection.

Symptoms of WNV include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or a rash. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 20% of people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About one in 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.

The Greenfield Health Department continues to work closely with the DPH and other agencies in regard to this discovery. Information about WNV and reports of current and historical WNV virus activity in Massachusetts can be found at www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito.

“We are approaching the discovery of West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes in Greenfield with extreme precaution,” Mayor Ginny Desorgher said. “I want to thank the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Greenfield Health Department for their proactive efforts to share this critical information across our community.”