West Nile Found in Pittsfield Mosquito Samples
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The state Department of Public Health on Friday confirmed the presence of West Nile virus in samples of mosquitoes collected by the Berkshire County Mosquito Control Project within the city.
There is no current confirmed human case of West Nile in Pittsfield.
It is very important to take personal protective measures to avoid bites:
- When outdoors, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and socks.
- Use a repellent with DEET according to the instructions on the product label.
- Keep mosquitoes out of your house by repairing holes in screens and making sure screens fit tightly to doors and windows.
- Schedule outdoor events to avoid the hours between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
- Remove areas of standing water around your home twice a week to eliminate sources of mosquito breeding.
For more information, contact the Pittsfield Health Department at 413-499-9411 or contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Immunization at 617-983-6800 or toll-free at 888-658-2850, or on the MDPH Arbovirus website.
Tags: mosquito, West Nile,
