NAHANT — The town has some unwelcome visitors that should have residents on high alert.
On Thursday, Town Administrator Antonio Barletta announced that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health had found West Nile virus in a sample of mosquitoes collected in the area.
The town told the public to use precautions and protect themselves by wearing long sleeves and pants, as well as applying insect repellent, draining any standing water, and repairing any broken screens. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times so that is when residents should be on high alert.
While anyone can be infected with West Nile virus, residents ages 50 and older have an increased risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in five people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms; about one out of 150 infected people in that age group develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.
