West Nile Virus in Massachusetts, What to Know

Posted by Mosquito Squad
West Nile Virus in Massachusetts, What to Know

December 20, 2023

For those who reside in the Northeast, there are a couple of bugs on everyone’s mind. When summer comes around, we inevitably flock to the outdoors where the mosquitoes are waiting. At this point, we all know that these insects are just a part of our region during the summer, but this knowledge doesn’t make mosquitoes any less annoying. No matter what you do in the outdoors, chances are you’ll encounter a mosquito, whether that be out on a run or spending time with friends in your outdoor living space. The concerning part of having mosquitoes everywhere is not that they deliver painful bites, rather that they can infect humans with serious diseases. As of today, contracting a mosquito-borne disease is a relatively rare occurrence in the United States, but it does happen. In MA, for example, there were 11 confirmed cases of West Nile virus in the state in 2020. Yes, this number is quite low, but many of these cases resulted in severe symptoms like encephalitis, a condition that involves swelling of the brain. Such a serious condition can result in death, and even after being cured, patients often experience permanent damage because of brain swelling. The risk is low, but the odds are never zero. 2020 Massachusetts data is the most complete recent data we have access to, and this information indicates that roughly 1.4% of mosquitoes sampled across the state were positive for West Nile virus. We don’t yet know the distribution of mosquitoes that carry WNV in MA, but we can assume that the disease is still here. In addition to the threat that mosquitoes present to the outdoor living season, we now also must worry about the mosquitoes carrying diseases in our region. Fortunately, there are powerful mosquito control solutions available to you.

Northampton mosquito control is here to help

At Mosquito Squad, we’ve worked diligently since the mid-2000s to ensure our customers are defended against mosquitoes. Our powerful treatments, in addition to the skill of our highly trained technicians, are guaranteed to reduce the mosquito population on your property by up to 90%. With reapplications every 2-3 weeks, our mosquito barrier protection treatments are a trusted source of mosquito control in our region. Our Northampton mosquito control treatments are also effective against ticks! The outdoor living season is one to savor, so why allow mosquitoes to taint the time you get to spend in nature? Mosquito Squad offers the answer to your mosquito problem.

West Nile virus is yet another concerning reason to avoid mosquitoes. For powerful Northampton mosquito control, Mosquito Squad of Springfield has you covered. Give us a call at (413) 418-3359.