West Nile Virus

The Boston Public Health Commission today added Roslindale to the list of neighborhoods where mosquitoes have tested positive for the virus, which doesn't pose much of a threat to most people.

West Roxbury and Dorchester had already yielded virus-laden mosquitoes; the commission says new sampling in those two neighborhoods showed more germy bugs.

The Boston Public Health Commission reports the year's first detection of mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus, in West Roxbury. No human cases have yet been diagnosed.

The disease generally poses little threat to people with healthy immune systems, but officials say people should take the usual steps - use insect repellent outdoors, especially dusk to dawn, and wear pants and tops with long sleeves. Also, empty those gutters, get rid of old tires and turn over all those old flower pots. The city has started applying larvacide to its catch basins.

The state reports the first detection of the year of West Nile Virus in mosquitoes, from a trap in Halifax on June 30:

While WNV can infect people of all ages, people older than 50 are at higher risk for severe disease.