Epi Week #36 - 2016 General Statements

The season got very quiet during Epi Week 36, with a drastic drop in mosquitoes collected. While there were no changes to DPH’s WNV or EEEv risk levels, there was a second human case of WNV announced, a man in his 70s from Norfolk County whose symptoms began during Epi Week 35. Also note that though collections were down, the percentage of WNV in what was collected was still at 5%, a further indication that the virus is prevalent in mosquito populations this season. As mosquito activity continues to ramp down, DPH has announced that the last date to submit mosquitoes for testing is October 6th.

Weather

Unfortunately, drought conditions have continued to expand in Massachusetts, with more than 50% of the state in Extreme Drought (red), and nearly the entire state at a minimum of Moderate Drought (peach). At this point, for long-term drought relief, we would need several days of a slow steady soaking rain. Random periodic showers are likely this weekend, but this will not be enough. While the tropics are quite active, it does not appear any systems will be affecting our weather any time in the near future.

Epi Week 36 brought little rain to the state, with the greatest accumulation on the islands, thanks to post-Tropical Storm Hermine.