Massachusetts public health officials announced Friday two more people are confirmed to have West Nile virus in the state, bringing the total number of cases to six.
Two men in their 60s, who were likely exposed in Worcester County, are the latest confirmed cases, the state Department of Public Health said Friday.
Risk levels for the virus have now been elevated to high in Auburn, Berlin, Boylston, Charlton, Holden, Hopkinton, Hudson, Leicester, Millbury, Northborough, Paxton, Shrewsbury, West Boylston, Westborough, and Worcester.
The other four human cases were detected in Hampden, Middlesex, and Essex counties.
“West Nile virus continues to spread, and people remain at risk,” the state’s public health commissioner, Dr. Robbie Goldstein, said in the statement.
Goldstein said the risk will continue until the first hard frost, and advised residents to continue protecting themselves by using mosquito repellant and wearing long clothing.
Advertisement
Residents can reduce their risk of exposure by rescheduling outdoor activities during peak mosquito hours, which are in the evenings or early mornings, the statement said.
Officials also advised residents to mosquito-proof their homes by draining standing water and installing screens on windows and doors.
The first mosquitoes to test positive with West Nile virus in Massachusetts were announced on June 17, officials said.
Since then, 442 mosquito samples tested positive for the virus from state counties, the statement said.
Camille Bugayong can be reached at camille.bugayong@globe.com.