Epi Week #36 - 2015 General Statements

West Nile Virus activity continued this week, with 13 new arbovirus-positive mosquito pools, bringing the total for the season to 129. Of the 13, all were from the Culex pipiens/restuans complex. EEEv still remains undetected. Supplemental trapping by DPH over the past several weeks, in areas where human cases of WNV have been found, as well as other areas thought to be at high risk for arbovirus, has turned up WNV+ mosquito pools in municipalities in central and western Mass. that are not members of mosquito control districts (Belchertown, Northampton, Southbridge, Uxbridge, Worcester). This, coupled with the WNV+ finds in isolated member communities, indicates that this virus is widespread in the state at this point and likely present in towns and cities that are not currently under surveillance.

Weather

Above-normal temperatures continued this month, in some cases more than 10’F above the normal daytime highs for September, but we did finally receive a weekend of soaking rain. The heat will continue following that storm, with nighttime lows still up in the 60s in much of the state.