Hudson – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today, Sept. 28, that West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Hudson. The WNV positive mosquitoes were found on Municipal Drive. In 2010, 3,558 mosquito samples were tested for WNV and 121 samples were positive. Hudson had one WNV positive mosquito samples identified in 2010.
WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection.
While the Hudson Board of Health continues to work closely with the MDPH and other agencies, locally it is working closely with Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project (CMMCP) to reduce or remove mosquito larval habitats, and to apply appropriate mosquito larvicide and/or adulticide. To learn more and to request spraying (weather permitting), call 1-508-393-3055.
Information about WNV and reports of WNV activity in Massachusetts during 2010 can be found on the MDPH website at http://www.mass.gov/dph/wnv. Recorded information about WNV is also available by calling the MDPH Public Health Information Line at 1-866-627-7968.
