NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said a 13th human case of West Nile Virus for the year has been identified. The infected individual is a man in his 40s with exposure in southern Essex County. The department said that West Nile risk levels have been raised to moderate in Middleton in Essex County and North Reading in Middlesex County. It added that there have been 332 West Nile positive mosquito samples and risk is high until the first hard frost. Recommended precautions the public can take to prevent mosquito exposure include emptying standing water around homes, using approved insect repellents, and wearing appropriate clothing when outdoors, particularly from dusk to dawn. Categories: Massachusetts, News