Two mosquito pools in West Roxbury were the first positive tests for the West Nile Virus, the Boston Public Health Commission reported today.

There have been no confirmed human cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Boston this year.

Health officials do not release the area of where positive tests are found to not cause greater concern and to keep residents vigilant against mosquitos. 

"It’s that time of year when it’s not unexpected to find mosquitoes infected with the West Nile Virus in the Boston area,’’ said Dr. Anita Barry, director of the Infectious Disease Bureau at the Public Health Commission, through a press release.

WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus, but the virus is regarded as a very low risk to humans, said Barry. That low risk can be reduced if people take a few simple steps to protect themselves and their families. 

The Boston Public Health Commission recommends the following steps:

• Use insect repellant when outdoors, especially from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are more likely to be biting. 
• When possible, wear clothing with long sleeves and pants.
• Mosquito-proof your home by making sure window and door screens are in good repair to prevent mosquitoes from getting into the house.

To prevent mosquitoes from breeding:

• Turn over unused flower pots, buckets, wheelbarrows, and garbage cans.
• Remove leaves and other debris that can clog gutters and trap water. 
• Dispose of or cover old tires. 
• Cover swimming pools and kiddie pools when not in use.

Boston health officials recently began putting larvicide in catch basins in Boston neighborhoods, a process designed to reduce the number of mosquitoes.

For more information on WNV, call the Boston Public Health Commission at 617-534-5611 or visit www.bphc.org.