Massachusetts officials have confirmed the first human case of West Nile Virus in the state this year and recent mosquito samples taken from Woburn have tested positive (Related article). 

The safety of players is always the top priority for Mass Youth Soccer and we recommend following all advised precautions to protect communities and minimize risk.

Source: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/west-nile-virus-wnv

What can you do to protect yourself from WNV?

Since WNV is most commonly spread by mosquitoes, here are some things you can do to reduce your chances of being bitten:

• Schedule outdoor events to avoid the hours between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
• When you are outdoors, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and socks. This may be difficult to do when the weather is hot, but it will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
• Sunscreen first: If you’re also wearing sunscreen (psst: You should be!), apply the sunscreen first, then the insect repellent. Mosquitoes are most active from dusk till dawn, so it’s most important to apply repellent when you go out during those hours. But in many areas, mosquitoes also bite during the day, so apply it whenever you’ll be outdoors for an extended period.
• Avoid perfumes: You may love a fruity, floral or woodsy scent, but here’s some bad news: Bugs do, too.
• Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 (3-[N-butyl-N-acetyl]-aminopropionic acid) or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-menthane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions given on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin.
• Keep mosquitoes out of your house by repairing any holes in your screens and making sure they are tightly attached to all your doors and windows.
• Remove areas of standing water around your home. Here are some suggestions:
  • Look around outside your house for containers and other things that might collect water and turn them over, regularly empty them, or dispose of them.
  • Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outdoors so that water can drain out.
  • Clean clogged roof gutters; remove leaves and debris that may prevent drainage of rainwater.
  • Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
  • Change the water in birdbaths every few days; aerate ornamental ponds or stock them with fish.
  • Keep swimming pools clean and properly chlorinated; remove standing water from pool covers.
  • Use landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property.
• More information on choosing and using repellents safely is included in the mosquito repellents fact sheet. If you can’t go online, contact MDPH at (617) 983-6800 for a hard copy.

Did you know?

Mosquitoes can begin to multiply in any puddle or standing water that lasts for more than four days! Mosquito breeding sites can be anywhere. Take action to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and neighborhood. Organize a neighborhood clean up day to pick up containers from vacant lots and parks and to encourage people to keep their yards free of standing water. Mosquitoes don't care about fences, so it's important to remove areas of standing water throughout the neighborhood.

What are the symptoms of WNV?

The majority of people who are infected with WNV (approximately 80%) will have no symptoms.

A smaller number of people who become infected (~ 20%) will have symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands. They may also develop a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back.

Less than 1% of people infected with WNV will develop severe illness, including encephalitis or meningitis. The symptoms of severe illness can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. Persons older than 50 years of age have a higher risk of developing severe illness.

 Where can I get more information?

• Your doctor, nurse, or health care clinic, or your local board of health.
• The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), Division of Epidemiology at (617) 983-6800 or on the DPH mosquito website.
• Health effects of pesticides: MDPH, Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health at 617-624-5757.
• Mosquito control in your city or town: Mosquito control in Massachusetts is conducted through eleven mosquito control districts. The State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board (SRMCB) oversees all nine districts. Contact information for each district can be found online. You may also contact the SRMCB within the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources at 617-626-1700 or your local board of health.