Boston woman with West Nile virus has 1st case in Mass. this year

Massachusetts health officials are reminding residents to use bug spray and drain standing water, after confirming the state's first human case of West Nile virus this year.

According to state and city officials, a Boston woman in her 70s contracted the disease. It's not clear where she was exposed to it.

Massachusetts reported 11 cases of West Nile virus last year. And health officials say the ongoing drought may have helped limit the diseases's spread this year, though August and September are historically when most cases occur.

Most people infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms, and only about 1 in 150 infected people develop severe illness, according to the CDC.

With reporting from WBUR's News Desk and Nik DeCosta-Klipa