Bay State health officials are reporting the first confirmed case of West Nile virus in an animal this year, as people are urged to take precautions against mosquito bites. A goat was recently exposed to the virus in Lunenburg in Worcester County, the Department of Public Health announced on Tuesday.

The state’s first animal case of West Nile virus for this year has been confirmed in a goat in Lunenburg, and the Worcester County town was elevated to moderate risk, Massachusetts public health officials said Tuesday.

West Nile virus was detected in a goat in Lunenburg, marking the first animal case in Massachusetts in 2025. Nearby towns are now at moderate risk, officials say.