Moderate Risk for West Nile Virus – 09/24/2025
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has elevated Webster’s risk level for West Nile Virus (WNV) to Moderate. This means the chance of being bitten by an infected mosquito has increased in town.
While most people infected with WNV experience no or mild symptoms, the virus can cause serious illness. Protect yourself, your family, and our community by taking precautions.
Tips to protect yourself include:
- Use EPA-approved insect repellent whenever you are outdoors.
- Wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks to reduce exposed skin.
- Be especially cautious at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes that carry disease are most active.
- Repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
- Remove standing water around your home—such as in buckets, flowerpots, birdbaths, or gutters—to prevent mosquito breeding.
- Stay informed: monitor mosquito and disease activity throughout the season.
Stay updated: Massachusetts Arbovirus Update
Please share this information with friends, family, and neighbors so everyone can take the proper precautions. Together, we can reduce the risk of West Nile Virus in Webster.
For more information, contact the Webster Health Department at (508) 949-3800 x4002 or health.department@webster-ma.gov