The Cambridge Public Health Department leads the city's response to the risks posed by West Nile Virus, eastern equine encephalitis, and other mosquito-borne diseases.
When is West Nile virus season?
Mosquitoes are most active and most likely to carry disease between late July and late September. However, if the weather remains warm, the risk period can extend as late as November. The mosquito season ends once there has been a hard frost.
What is the current risk?
As of December 2011, there is no current risk of mosquito-borne disease in Massachusetts. The mosquito season ends once there has been a hard frost, which typically occurs in most of Massachusetts by November. To learn more about risk of West Nile virus in Cambridge and other Massachusetts communities, see the risk map from the MDPH.
Mosquito breeding grounds
Mosquito breeding grounds include catch basins and wetlands because mosquitoes lay their eggs in still or stagnant water. Residents should be aware that mosquito breeding grounds can be found anywhere there is a lot of standing water, such as their backyards. Tenants, property managers, and homeowners can greatly reduce the city's mosquito population by removing mosquito breeding grounds on their property.
What you can do
Remove standing water from your property
- Empty or treat any items that hold water, such as flower pots, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, cans, and barrels.
- Clean rain gutters, leaves in downspouts, and pooled water on flat roofs.
- Remove unused tires and other items that could collect water.
- Remove containers that may hold water in places that are hard to see, such as under bushes, porches, decks, or stairs.
If you can't get rid of standing water by sweeping or other methods, please report the address or location of the puddle or still water source to the appropriate city department:
- Private property: Cambridge Public Health Department, 617-665-3848
- Public property (roads, parks): Cambridge Dept. of Public Works, 617-349-4800
- Construction sites: Cambridge Inspectional Services, 617-349-6100
For general information, visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's arbovirus website and the CDC's What You Need To Know.
Last updated on December 14, 2011
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