Tuesday, October 16, 2012
The recent frost removed the risk of mosquito-borne illness; Northborough lifted the night time ban.
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Tuesday, October 16, 2012
The public health advisory has been lifted for evening outdoor activities organized by the town of Northborough. The National Weather Service reported that because of the hard frost that occurred over the weekend, all areas of Massachusetts except for Suffolk County and the Cape and Islands has drastically reduced the risk of mosquito-borne illness. As a precautionary measure, in early September, the Northborough Board of Health joined many surrounding towns and deferred to a warning issued by the Massachusetts Department of Health, and banned all Shrewsbury-organized evening events. "While individual mosquitoes may have survived in isolated sheltered areas, the risk of mosquito-borne illness should be virtually eliminated at this time in …
Monday, September 24, 2012
Mosquito-borne illnesses remain a serious threat until the first winter frost.
Northborough is still considered to be at a high risk and will be until the first hard frost, canceling nighttime activities, particularly evening sports. Earlier today the Massachusetts Department of Public Health sent out an announcement regarding a 16th case of the West Nile Virus and the sixth case of EEE in humans. The most recent EEE patient is an Amesbury woman in her 60s. "There have now been six confirmed human cases of EEE in Massachusetts residents so far this year, including one case that resulted in the death of a Worcester County man in his 70s," the release from the state said. "There were two cases of EEE in August of last year acquired in Massachusetts; a fatal case in a Bristol County man and an infection in a tourist …
Friday, September 14, 2012
Algonquin sports rescheduled 'one day at a time.'
Algonquin's season opener, originally scheduled for Friday night at the home field, is one of the many night-time sporting events that will have to be rescheduled after the town's announcement earlier this week. The announcement, prompted by a recommendation by the state's health board, strongly suggested that any nighttime activites and events be rescheduled due to the threat of mosquito borne illnesses. The Tomahawks, scheduled to take on Wachusett, will now play on Saturday at 3 p.m. at home. Evening soccer games and football games will be rescheduled, said Algonquin's Athletic Director Fran Whitten. "We're taking it one day at a time," said Whitten. The updated sports schedules can be found here.
Monday, September 10, 2012
After much consideration, and a recommendation from the Department of Public Health, the fireworks ... and nighttime sports ... are canceled in town.
After last week's threat of eastern equine encephalitis was raised to "high" in Northborough (and "critical in Westborough), by the Department of Public Health, local authorities met to discuss the appropriate response to ensure the town's safety. Due to their proximity to Westborough, the towns of Auburn, Hopkinton, Grafton, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Upton, Worcester an Northborough were elevated to high risk for mosquito-borne illness. Northborough's police chief, fire chief, health agent, superintendent, the public schools' athletic director and the town administrator met with others to consider steps that could be taken in reaction to the elevated mosquito-borne illness risk level. It was determined, unanimously, that nighttime …
Westborough is at the highest level in the state Department of Public Health's ranking system and Northborough has been elevated to "high."
Westborough's threat level for EEE was elevated to critical today -- the top rung on the state Department of Public Health's ranking system, and Northborough's level was raised to "high." The decision came one day after the state agency determined that a Westborough resident was Massachusetts' first reported death this year from Eastern equine encephalitis, the agency said in a press release. The resident was "likely exposed" in Westborough, the agency said. DPH Media Relations Manager Anne Roach told Westborough Patch the agency does not release or confirm such victims' names. However, the Boston Globe reports the resident is Benjamin Duce, 79. Westborough Director of Public Health Paul McNulty said this morning the victim resided in the …
Friday, August 17, 2012
Today's moves happened after mammal-biting, EEE-postive mosquitoes were found here.
Westborough residents, and perhaps bordering towns, planning evening outdoor activities over the rest of the summer should think twice, the state Department of Public Health said today. The state agency has elevated Westborough's Eastern Equine Encephalitis threat level to high, because mammal-biting, EEE-postive mosquitoes have been found here. Mosquito spraying will be "enhanced" here and in New Bedford, which had its threat level raised to high today as well and for the same reason, the agency said in a press release. The agency is recommending that both communities curtail outdoor evening events "for the remainder of the summer," according to the press release. “We continue to see elevated levels of EEE activity in mosquitoes across …
TR
2:36 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Beavers? Really? Seems a liitle odd.... I never hug trees because they refuse to hug back. Very rude behavior! more ›