Epi Week #34 - 2015 General Statements
West Nile Virus activity declined this week, with 13 new arbovirus-positive mosquito pools, bringing the total for the season to 99. Of the 12, all but one was from the Culex pipiens/restuans complex; a single Culiseta melanura pool from the town of Lakeville (Plymouth County) tested positive for WNV as well. DPH also announced the first human case of WNV, a man in his 40s from Middlesex County who required hospitalization. The patient’s most likely location of exposure is not known, but is thought to have occurred out of state, so no associated risk level changes have yet been made. EEEv still remains undetected.
Weather
Most of the state saw little rain this past week, with the main exception being Franklin County, which was the beneficiary of a storm that traveled northeast up into NH and left 3+ inches of rain. The southern half of Berkshire County, as well as isolated locations in Plymouth County and on Cape Cod, also received rain in the amounts of 1-2 inches. Tropical Storm Erika fizzled out, and Hurricane Fred formed but is not expected to be a threat to New England.
The end of August and beginning of September is bringing us July-like temperatures, which is expected to last through mid-September (the average temperature for the first week of September is only 76’F). Scattered storms may appear, but other than that, no rain is expected any time soon. About 50% of Massachusetts is still categorized as “Abnormally Dry” by the US Drought Monitor.
