Fight the Bite

Mosquitoes

Practice the 5 D's of Mosquito Protection:

DRESS in long sleeves and pants when possible. Cover up during periods of mosquito activity.
DEET is an effective insect repellent. Always follow the label instructions.
DAWN & DUSK are mosquitoes' most active periods.
DRAIN water from containers weekly. Avoid standing water, such as rain collecting in open bins, buckets or toys!

The City of Worcester participates in the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project (CMMCP). Please note that spray dates are subject to change due to weather conditions, mosquito populations, mosquito virus activity and/or special event spraying. Visit the CMMCP website for details about the spray schedule.

Although mosquito control pesticides pose low risks, some people may prefer to avoid or further minimize exposure. Some common sense steps to help reduce possible exposure to pesticides include:

Listen and watch for announcements about spraying in the local media and remain indoors during the application to the immediate area.
People who suffer from chemical sensitivities or feel spraying may aggravate a preexisting health condition, may consult their physician or local health department and take special measures to avoid exposure.
Close windows and turn off window-unit air conditioners when spraying is taking place in the immediate area.
Do not let children play near or behind truck-mounted applicators when they are in use.

Questions? Please contact CMMCP at 508-393-3055 between 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or logging onto http://www.cmmcp.org.

Rabies

Rabies occurs in animals in Massachusetts every year, most commonly in raccoons, skunks and bats. There are steps that you can take to protect yourself, your loved ones and your pets from rabies:

Teach children to never approach animals they don't know - even if they appear friendly.
Report any animal that behaves oddly to your local animal control official.
Enjoy wild animals from a distance. Do not keep wild animals as pets. This is against the law in Massachusetts.
Make sure your pets are vaccinated against rabies. By law, all dogs, cats and ferrets must be regularly vaccinated against rabies.
Don't feed or give water to your pets outside. Even empty bowls will attract wild and stray animals.
Keep your pets in a fenced yard or on a leash and do not let them roam freely.
Keep your garbage securely covered. Open garbage will attract wild or stray animals.
Keep your chimney capped and repair holes in attics, cellars and porches to help keep wild animals like bats and raccoons out of your home.

What To Do in Case of Contact/Exposure

Rabies is a serious disease, but illness in humans can be prevented following an exposure by prompt administration of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. Any person who is exposed to an infected animal's saliva through a bite, scratch or fresh wound, or got saliva in their eyes, nose or mouth, has had a high-risk exposure.

If you or someone you know may have had contact with a rabid animal, please contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 617-983-6800 (available 24 hours), or your health care provider.

Additional Resources

Ticks

Avoid Tick Bites

In Massachusetts, peak tick season runs March/April through August, and again in October to November. The most common types are blacklegged (or deer), dog and lone star ticks.
Dress in long sleeves and pants when possible. Tuck pants into socks to prevent ticks from climbing inside the pant leg.
Avoid wooded and bush areas with high grass, and walk in the center of trails.
Use repellents that contain DEET (or other EPA-registered repellents), and use products that contain permethrin on clothing. Always follow the label instructions.
Do frequent "tick checks" on the entire family as well as pets. Check clothing, gear and hard-to-see places on the body such as armpits, groin, legs, around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees and especially along your hairline.
Shower soon after being outdoors.

Diagram of Tick Sizes and Typical Bite Locations

Removing Ticks

If you find an attached tick, use tweezers to remove it by grasping close to the skin and pulling straight up. Do not twist or jerk.
Clean bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
Note the date and location of tick bite in case you develop symptoms of a tick-borne disease.

Diagram Showing How to Remove a Tick

Lyme Disease

The majority of cases of tick-borne disease occur in June through August, and they are transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tick attached for 36-48 hours or longer.
Lyme Disease symptoms include: