Epi Week #41 - 2015 General Statements

With a hard frost coming in at the start of Epi Week 42, surveillance has been completed by all districts. As DPH noted in their own report, risk of arbovirus transmission is minimal following a hard frost, since nearly all mosquito activity will cease. Surveillance was also minimal this week, with only Central Mass. Mosquito Control Project submitting pools for testing; most Districts/Projects have now turned their attention to water management projects.

There was no arbovirus found this week. Arbovirus levels as a whole for the season were low, with only 1 EEEv+ mosquito pool found. According to DPH, the last time Massachusetts had only a single mosquito positive was in 2002 (in Tewksbury), and the last time we had a season with 0 EEEv+ mosquitoes was 1996. This is expected to be the final report of the 2015 season.

Weather

Epi Week 41 was another dry week for most of the state, except for the Cape and Islands and the southernmost tip of Bristol County, following thunderstorms that passed through on Oct. 16th, delivering an inch or more of rain in some locations. As noted above, a hard frost is expected to start off Epi Week 42, the earliest hard frost the state has seen in several years. Expect a return to above normal temperatures by the middle/late part of Epi Week 42, followed by a gradual cool down.