A horse in Hampshire County is the first animal case, and among the first four cases overall, of West Nile Virus in Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced on Friday.
The horse was euthanized after becoming “severely ill.”
The other three West Nile cases include a Worcester County woman in her 70s, a Suffolk County woman in her 50s and a Middlesex County Woman in her 60s. The former two women were hospitalized and discharged, while the Middlesex County woman was not hospitalized.
Prior to the announcement, there had been no documented cases of West Nile in Massachusetts this year.
The announcement comes recently after the DPH found that mosquitoes carrying the virus had been found in Northampton, as well as elsewhere in the state. The DPH also raised state-wide West Nile risk levels from low to moderate. August and September are peak infection times for the virus.
In response, the City of Northampton released a public health announcement on Thursday advising people to take precautions against mosquito bites.
When outdoors, the DPH advises people to use insect repellent and to be mindful of peak mosquito hours from dusk to dawn. Wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks can also lower one’s risk of mosquito bites.
People can protect their homes by installing and maintaining screens on all windows and doors and draining standing water, where mosquitoes lay their eggs, in containers such as drains and gutters.
The DPH additionally recommends that animal owners flush out water troughs at least once a week during the summer and remove standing water in containers such as buckets, wading pools and tires. Owners should also speak with their veterinarians about vaccinations for West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, as well as mosquito repellents that are approved for animals. Horses should be kept in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of being bitten.
All animal West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis cases must be reported to the Division of Animal Health at (617) 626-1795 and Department of Public Health at (617) 983-6800.