End to West Nile Virus threat not near

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Massachusetts is on track to see more West Nile Virus positive mosquito pools since the virus was first identified here 12 years ago.

So far 101 Massachusetts communities have West Nile Virus infected mosquitoes. That threat level at “high” or “critical” now in six Hampden county communities and the end is not so near.

• Total West Nile Infections reported

There may be mosquitoes lurking in your grass and all of that rain we've been seeing isn't helping.

In the month of August we saw 5.3 inches of rain which is more than an 1.5 inches above normal which is an increased chance of standing water which is breeding ground for mosquitoes.

There are more than 2,000 confirmed cases of West Nile virus reported across the country, including 2 cases in Hampden County.

Other cities like Dallas have used aerial spraying to try and keep mosquito populations down.

In Springfield the threat level was raised to "high" Wednesday afternoon. They’ve been using larvicide in sewers and standing water. Although if needed they would work with the Department of Health to discuss spraying.

Helen Caulton-Harris, Director of the Springfield Health and Human Services said,“Aerosol gets into the air very quickly and there's really a low health risk, it's just something that we've not done in a while in the city of Springfield and most cities and towns in the commonwealth don't spray.”

While some people oppose pesticide spraying, others say it would be okay with them if they could prove it's safe.

• Quiz: How much do you know about the West Nile Virus & EEE?

 “It all depends on health issues, if something happens to people then I have a problem with it. As long as the government is safe for everybody then I really don't have a problem with it,” said Rich Carotenuto of Westfield.

The end may not be near, the West Nile threat normally doesn't end until the season's second hard frost.

“Most of the time we get our frost by mid-October, so we've still got a while for the frost, let alone the freeze which will really kill these insects off and that won't be until Middle-late October, in fact into early November,” said 22News Storm Team Meteorologist Nick Bannin.

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