Epi Week #36 - 2017 General Statements | Central Mass Mosquito Control Project

Massachusetts has confirmed 262 WNV-positive mosquito pools so far this season, with WNV activity in every mainland county in the state. There are now a total of 155 towns and cities in 11 counties at MODERATE risk for WNV, more than 40% of the state. Since it is difficult to compare this year to past years, with new and high sampling levels in the Pioneer Valley area, the metric of towns per risk level category is useful. In comparison, at this time in 2016, there were only 55 municipalities at a MODERATE risk level; in 2015 there were 42 (and this did include some sampling in the Pioneer Valley area). Unseasonably warm temperatures will continue to contribute to mosquito activity, prolonging WNV activity statewide.

Weather

Epi Week 36 was a wet week for most of the state, after a particularly dry August and September. Parts of Berkshire County, Northern Worcester County, Cape Cod and the Islands saw in excess of 3 inches and even 4 inches of precipitation

Percipitation in MA for EPI Week 36, 2017

Expect above-average temperatures to continue through at least the middle of Epi Week 37, at which point the southeastern part of the state will be dealing with a weakened Tropical Storm Jose that is expected to bring some wind and rain.