West Nile precautions

With a Newton resident reportedly contracting the West Nile virus, the town’s Health Department is advising residents to avoid mosquito bites by taking precautions while outdoors. Tests have found virus-carrying mosquitoes throughout Brookline. The disease is usually mild, and most people recover on their own, according to the department. Town crews are applying larvicide to catch basins and in some wetlands, continuing to monitor mosquitoes for the virus, and eliminating standing water where they can. Residents are advised to wear long-sleeved clothing, apply mosquito repellent containing DEET (except on infants) or effective alternatives, fix holes on screens, dump standing water, repair outdoor leaks, and trim grass and bushes. Call the Health Department for more information at 617-730-2300. - Andreae Downs