BOSTON — A fourth human case of West Nile virus has been announced in Massachusetts this summer.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said the person is a woman in her 50's from Middlesex County. She was never hospitalized for her illness.
The three other cases were reported on Friday.
Investigations conducted by state public health officials indicate that at least two of the four cases were exposed in the greater Boston area leading them to raise the risk level from moderate to high in 11 communities in the area. Those communities are Arlington, Boston, Belmont, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Medford, Newton, Somerville and Watertown.
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"Several individuals from the same area have developed West Nile virus," said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel. "That means there is an increased risk in this specific area and that additional people could become infected."
In 2017, there were 6 cases of West Nile virus infection identified in Massachusetts.
Cox Media Group
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