Epi Week #31 - 2015 General Statements

Aug 2 - 8

West Nile Virus activity continued this week, with 18 new arbovirus-positive mosquito pools. Of the 18, all but one were from the Culex pipiens/restuans complex, with a single Culiseta melanura pool from the town of Kingston (Plymouth County). DPH noted in their report that weather patterns continue to drive above-normal levels of Culex spp., the key WNV-carrying mosquitoes in the state. DPH is also cautioning that EEEv is likely present in mosquitoes at this time as well, though it remains undetected.

Weather

Scattered rain events brought precipitation to some parts of the state again this past week, including the New Bedford area, western Hampshire County, the central east part of Berkshire County, and very limited parts of Worcester and Middlesex counties. Epi Week 31 is expected to finish out with normal temperatures after rain comes through at the start of the week. Models are predicting above normal temperatures for Epi Week 32.

Precipitation in MA for EPI Week 31, 2015