Epi Week #35 - 2014 General Statements

Mosquito activity remained low this week. Totals for both EEE- and WNV-positive mosquito pools continue to remain below 2013 and 2012 levels. It remains to be seen whether the upcoming stretch of warm weather will lead to increased mosquito activity.

Districts with arbovirus-positive mosquitoes have continued to implement standard control responses, including some larviciding of catch basins and ULV truck spraying of adulticide in a wide area around positive findings.

Weather

Epi Week 35 was warmer than average for most of the state, but it was also extremely dry, with only a few isolated areas receiving significant rainfall. Epi Week 36 will start off with extremely hot and humid weather, and in some cases even overnight lows will be in excess of the typical high temperature for the day. Temperatures for the month of August were 1.5 to 2’F below average, with rainfall in many parts of the state at an inch or more below normal. Numbers for the summer as a whole show close to average temperatures statewide, but much variation in precipitation, with Boston over 1.5” below normal, and Worcester over 1.7” above normal.