BOSTON -- Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus have been found in a sample collected by state health officials in Worcester.
It's the first time this year that the virus has been detected in mosquitoes in Massachusetts.
Six human cases of West Nile were reported in the state in 2007, none fatal. No human cases of the mosquito-borne virus have been reported so far this year.
Dr. Al DeMaria of the state Department of Public Health said Wednesday that the recent heavy rains and hot weather have increased the mosquito population in Massachusetts. He urged residents to take precautions against being bitten, including wearing insect repellant with the chemical DEET.
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