Latest news with #DepartmentOfPublicHealth
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New Bedford mosquito sample tests positive for West Nile virus again. What to know.
West Nile virus has been detected in a mosquito sample in New Bedford for the second time in recent weeks. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health notified local health officials about the finding, which was in a primarily bird-biting mosquito near Oak Grove Cemetery on Parker Street, according to a community announcement. The risk level for West Nile virus in New Bedford, Fairhaven and Acushnet is moderate. Preventative measures include wearing mosquito repellent between dusk and dawn, wearing long sleeves and pants during those hours, using mosquito netting on baby carriages and playpens, and emptying standing water around homes twice weekly. The Bristol County Mosquito Project conducted targeted ground-spraying Aug. 14 in the Oak Grove Cemetery area. This spraying supplements the county's normal weekly ground-spraying, which occurs seasonally from early June through September and targets parks and other locations that host large public events. Weekly sprayings take place every Thursday during the summer between 2 a.m. and sunrise in locations around Buttonwood Park, Brooklawn Park, Fort Taber, Hazelwood Park, Riverside Park, Clasky Common Park, Ashley Park, Wing's Court, Custom House Square and other parts of downtown. Residents near targeted areas may want to close their windows in the evenings before spraying. In the event of inclement weather, spraying will be moved to early Friday morning. The annual monitoring program involves crews placing traps and collecting specimens to monitor the mosquito population throughout the summer. It also helps track whether any mosquitoes are carrying Eastern equine encephalitis or West Nile virus. West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause illness ranging from a mild fever to more serious disease. It is most commonly spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. Positive mosquito samples for West Nile are not uncommon in the summer months and have been found in cities and towns across the state in recent weeks. The New Bedford Health Department recommends several precautionary measures to help protect against mosquito bites: Be aware of peak mosquito hours: Mosquitoes are most active from dusk to dawn. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities during these times or take extra precautions with repellent and protective clothing, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Clothing can help reduce mosquito bites: Wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors can help keep mosquitoes away from your skin, even though it may be challenging in hot weather. Apply insect repellent when outdoors: Use a repellent with DEET, permethrin, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to the product label instructions. DEET products should not be used on infants under 2 months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under 3 years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin. Drain standing water: Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water. Limit breeding sites around your home by draining or removing items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains, empty unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change water in birdbaths frequently. Install or repair screens: Some mosquitoes can enter homes. Keep them outside by ensuring tight-fitting screens on all windows and doors. For more information and the state's risk-level map, visit This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: West Nile virus detected in mosquito sample in New Bedford Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
5 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Dozens of beaches in Massachusetts closed for swimming due to bacteria, toxic algae in water
It will be ideal beach day weather in Massachusetts this weekend, with sunny skies and temperatures in the 80s and 90s. But dozens of beaches across the state are closed for swimming because there is either too much bacteria in the water or toxic algae is present. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health maintains a daily online dashboard of beach closures. As of 8 a.m. Friday, there were more than 50 closures listed. The main beach at Walden Pond in Concord is closed all summer due to construction of a new bathhouse. Damon Pond Beach, Ashby (Bacterial Exceedance)Ashland Reservoir - Main Beach, Ashland (Bacterial Exceedance)Woodbury, Beverly (Bacterial Exceedance)Nutting Lake - Micozzi Beach @ North, Billerica (Bacterial Exceedance)Nutting Lake - Micozzi Beach @ South, Billerica (Bacterial Exceedance) Carson Beach @ Bathhouse, Boston (Bacterial Exceedance)Carson Beach @ L Street, Boston (Bacterial Exceedance) Freeman Lake, Chelmsford (Bacterial Exceedance and Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)Chicopee Beach, Chicopee (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)Walden Pond - Main, Concord (Other)Sandy Beach, Danvers (Bacterial Exceedance)Moses Smith Creek, Dartmouth (Bacterial Exceedance)Centennial Grove, Essex (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)Learned Pond Beach, Framingham (Bacterial Exceedance) Saxonville Beach, Framingham (Bacterial Exceedance) Chilson Beach, Franklin (Bacterial Exceedance) American Legion Park, Georgetown (Bacterial Exceedance) Seymour Pond, Harwich (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom) Eagle Lake, Holden (Bacterial Exceedance)Pleasure Point, Holliston (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom) Stoddard Park, Holliston (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom) Sandy Point - Plum Island @ North, Ipswich (Bacterial Exceedance)Santuit Pond @ Bryants Neck, Mashpee (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom) Santuit Pond @ Town Landing, Mashpee (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom) Nahant Beach, Nahant (Bacterial Exceedance) Sesachacha Pond, Nantucket (Bacterial Exceedance) Cochituate State Park Beach, Natick (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)Memorial Beach @ Wading (Bacterial Exceedance)Crystal Lake, Newton (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)Frye Pond Beach, North Andover (Bacterial Exceedance) Stevens Pond - Center, North Andover (Bacterial Exceedance) Carbuncle Pond, Oxford (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom) Lulu Pond Beach, Pittsfield (Bacterial Exceedance) Children's Island, Salem (Bacterial Exceedance) Ocean Avenue, Salem (Bacterial Exceedance) Willow Avenue, Salem (Bacterial Exceedance) Pearce Lake @ Breakheart Reservation, Saugus (Bacterial Exceedance) Community Center Beach, Sharon (Bacterial Exceedance) South Pond Beach, Southwick (Bacterial Exceedance) Bass Pond @ Right, Springfield (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)Camp Wilder @ Right), Springfield (Bacterial Exceedance) Paddle Club @ Right, Springfield (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)Beamans Pond, Templeton (Bacterial Exceedance) Pearl Hill Pond Beach, Townsend (Bacterial Exceedance) Shangri-La, Wareham (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom) Lakeside, Webster (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom) Memorial Beach, Webster (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom) Hampton Ponds - Kingsley Beach, Westfield (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom) Hamptons Pond - Lamberts Beach, Westfield (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom) Crow Hill Pond Beach, Westminster (Bacterial Exceedance)Wilmington Town Beach, Wilmington (Bacterial Exceedance) Bacterial exceedance can result from runoff pollution or sewage overflows after heavy rain. Swimming in water with too much bacteria can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, respiratory illness and itching. The harmful cyanobacteria blooms can lead to similar problems. The algae bloom occurs when cyanobacteria multiplies quickly, causing water to become pea soup-colored and smell bad. In Plymouth last week, beachgoers and their pets were warned to avoid several ponds because the toxic algae could make them sick. None of the beach closures are related to a rare flesh-eating bacteria that infected a swimmer at Old Silver Beach in Falmouth. Health officials there say the beach is safe for swimming as long as people make sure they do not go in the water with an exposed wound.
CBS News
08-08-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Venice dog deaths prompt public health warnings for canal waters
Following the recent deaths of at least five dogs in the Venice Canals area, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued a canal water advisory. While public health officials say the source of sudden illness in 26 canine cases reported, including the deaths, is still under investigation, results from environmental tests of the canal water prompted the advisory and safety guidance. "Do not allow pets to enter or drink the water, or to touch or sniff algae, scum, or any debris near the water," the Department of Public Health wrote in its report released on Friday. Since the start of June, word was spreading through the Venice neighborhood that dogs were inexplicably getting sick and even dying after walks near the canals. The deaths were first announced by the Venice Canals Association through social media, stating that dogs had been vomiting, having seizures and collapsing. Dog owners and walkers were advised to keep their pets on a leash and away from water in the canal and to avoid using shared bowls with other dogs. "It's basically a cluster of like, five dogs dying in less than 10 days, and then another one that passed away last month," Ramon J. Goni, member of the Venice Canal Association, said earlier. One dog owner said her six-and-a-half-month-old puppy suddenly began having mobility issues that led to seizures and death within hours. Potential causes of the deaths were being considered, including toxic algae bloom, rodent poison, or other toxins near the water. The Venice Canal Association collected data from dog owners and shared it with county health officials. Over one month later, the county released its preliminary environmental findings, with Water Quality Control Board test results finding "the presence of toxins produced by algae" in the canal water. "While a definitive link to the dog illnesses has yet to be confirmed, out of an abundance of caution, the City of Los Angeles is taking proactive measures to protect the public and animal health," the Department of Public Health wrote in its report. Signs will be posted around the affected canal areas, warning of the potential risk of toxins from algae. Health officials said the effects of toxins from the algae vary, and in animals, the toxins can cause diarrhea, vomiting, convulsions and death. For humans, the toxins can cause skin rashes, eye irritation, diarrhea, and vomiting. The Canal Advisory and Safety Guidance orders are as follows: For additional information on harmful algae, check here.
The Independent
07-08-2025
- Health
- The Independent
New study ties 440 more deaths to California wildfires
New studies suggest recent wildfires in Los Angeles and Maui may have caused many more deaths than official counts indicate. A Finnish study published in an American Medical Association journal found 440 excess deaths in Los Angeles County during the January wildfires, attributing them to health conditions worsened by smoke and mental health issues. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger has requested the county's Department of Public Health to thoroughly review the findings. Separate research on the 2023 Maui wildfire revealed indirect impacts, including lung damage, depression symptoms, and a 97 per cent increase in suicide and overdose deaths during the month of the fires. While the Maui study noted a broader increase in such deaths across Hawaiian counties, these elevated rates did not persist in subsequent months.
The Independent
07-08-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Hundreds more may have died in LA's devastating fires in January than first reported, study finds
The death toll from the devastating early January wildfires around Los Angeles may be more than 400 people greater than the official tally, according to a new study. The paper, published by Finnish researchers in an American Medical Association journal, looked at the difference between expected and observed deaths in Los Angeles County as the fires were burning and found 440 excess deaths. They attribute the excess deaths to health conditions made worse by wildfire smoke, as well as mental health issues and health interrupted by the blazes, among other factors. 'The findings from this study underscore the need to complement direct fatalities estimates with alternative methods to quantify the additional mortality burden of wildfires and of climate-related emergencies more broadly,' the authors wrote. 'They also highlight the need for improved mortality surveillance during and after wildfire emergencies.' The study got the attention local leaders, who are still rebuilding after the Palisades and Eatons fires destroyed more than 16,000 structures and were attributed directly to 31 deaths. L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose district includes the hard-hit Altadena area, said she had seen the study's findings with interest. 'This study's assertion that over 400 excess deaths are a result of our Los Angeles wildfires is concerning,' she told the local Daily Breeze newspaper. 'In response, I've asked our county's Department of Public Health to thoroughly review the findings and provide their input. It is critical that we understand the full scope of the wildfires' impacts.' Another group of recent studies looked at similar indirect impacts from the 2023 Maui wildfire. The Maui fire was directly blamed for more than 100 deaths. But it also left 1 in 5 with lung damage and as many as half with symptoms of depression, one set of new research found. The month of the fire saw 13 suicide and overdose deaths, translating to nearly double the normal suicide and overdose death rates. Jonathan Purtle of New York University was the lead author of one study, which calculated rates of suicide and overdose deaths in Maui and Hawaii's four other counties. That research team found a 97% increase in suicides and overdose death rates on Maui during the month of the wildfires. The total number of suicide and overdose deaths was 13 that month — most of them suicides. They also found a 46% increase in such deaths in all five counties, which may have been influenced by displaced Maui residents migrating to other islands, the authors said. The increases did not last: Rates fells in the following months, the researchers found.
