The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed eight human cases of West Nile virus this season, following the discovery of two new cases.

One of the cases is for a woman in her 60s who was exposed in Middlesex County and another for a man in his 50s who contracted West Nile in Suffolk County.

As a result, this has led to elevated virus levels in Arlington, Chelsea, Medford and Waltham, the DPH reported.

Over the last 10 years, 80% of people become sick with West Nile in either August or September with 12% developing sickness after Oct. 1, Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein wrote in a statement.

“We are almost out of the peak season for the spread of West Nile virus to people in Massachusetts,” Goldstein explained. “But because some risk will continue unti

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