The Cambridge Chronicle reports today that state health officials have found mosquitos infected with the West Nile virus at Fresh Pond and Mt. Auburn cemetery. Read the article here.

The state has a helpful fact sheet on West Nile here.

Most people have no symtoms of the virus and it resolves itself. Symptoms to watch for are flu-like and in few cases can result in later complications like encephalitis and meningitis, so please take prevention seriously. The best prevention is wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts, wearing mosquito repellent containing DEET (ugh) or pyrethrin (yup, the same stuff we give dogs to deworm them), and removing the standing water in which mosquitos breed (thanks for the wet meadow, Fresh Pond).

According to the CDC, dogs can get West Nile virus but are unlikely to develop symptoms or need treatment. See their fact sheet here.

You cannot catch West Nile from an infected person or animal.