West Nile Virus Risk Level Raised in Bristol County

NEW BEDFORD - The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has raised the West Nile Virus risk level in Bristol County.

On the department's website, the risk has been raised from "low" to "moderate" in Bristol, Norfolk and Plymouth Counties.

The department has detected 289 cases of West Nile Virus in mosquitoes throughout the three counties in tests from June 26 to September 27. Two human cases of West Nile Virus have been reported in Bristol and Hampden Counties.

The Department of Public Health urges people to take precautions against mosquito borne illnesses by wearing mosquito repellent, long sleeves and pants when the weather permits, using mosquito netting, and dumping any standing water on your property.