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Mosquito Control

The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) partners with the Suffolk County Mosquito Control Project (SCMCP) to protect Boston residents from mosquito-borne disease transmission.

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Mosquito-borne illnesses spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Examples include West Nile Virus (WNV) or Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus. The season for mosquito borne illness in Boston is summer through early fall.

As of August 20, 2024, the risk level for West Nile Virus in Boston is: high.

What it means: Infection with West Nile Virus is likely or has already occurred and more people in your area may get infected.

What you can do to prevent WNV infection:
  1. Be prepared: Know your risk -check this page regularly, repair screens, clean up to get rid of mosquito breeding sites, be aware of stagnant water on private property (e.g. unused swimming pools) and consult the local board of health.
  2. Wear long sleeves and long pants from dusk to dawn when weather permits
  3. Use mosquito netting on baby carriages and playpens
  4. Wear mosquito repellent when outdoors, especially between dusk and dawn
  5. Dump standing water twice weekly
  6. People over 50 or those who are immune compromised should adjust outdoor activity to avoid peak mosquito hours (from dusk to dawn)

What we do

BPHC partners with the Suffolk County Mosquito Control Project (SCMCP) to protect Boston residents from mosquito-borne disease transmission. The SCMCP collects mosquito samples in traps every week during the summer and early fall. These traps are throughout the City. They test the samples at the Hinton State Laboratory to determine if WNV or EEE virus is present.

Information from mosquito collections helps determine where to put extra precautions to keep Boston residents safe. This may include truck mounted aerosol spraying to control adult mosquito populations.

Positive Collection Results: Summer 2023-2024

County   City Date Collected Species Quadrant Agents
Suffolk   Boston September 17, 2024 Culex pipiens/restuans Hyde Park WNV
Suffolk   Boston August 20, 2024 Culex pipiens/restuans East Boston WNV
Suffolk   Boston August 13, 2024 Culex pipiens/restuans complex, culex salinarius Hyde Park, Mattapan, Brighton, Allston, South Boston WNV
Suffolk   Boston July 26, 2024 Culex pipiens/ restuans complex, ochleropatus japonicus Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, Roxbury, and West Roxbury WNV
Suffolk   Boston September 7, 2023 Culex pipiens/ restuans complex East Boston, Mattapan, West Roxbury WNV
Suffolk   Boston August 30, 2023 Culex pipiens/ restuans complex Hyde Park WNV
Suffolk   Boston August 30, 2023 Culex pipiens/ restuans complex Charlestown WNV
Suffolk   Boston August 29, 2023 Culex pipiens/ restuans complex Jamaica Plain WNV
Suffolk   Boston August 22, 2023 Culex pipiens/ restuans complex Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury WNV
Suffolk   Boston August 15, 2023 Culex pipiens/ restuans complex Dorchester and Mattapan WNV
Suffolk   Boston August 8, 2023 Culex pipiens/ restuans complex Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Brighton WNV
Suffolk   Boston July 20, 2023 Culex pipiens/ restuans complex South Boston WNV
Suffolk   Boston September 13, 2022 Culex pipiens/ restuans complex Charlestown, East Boston WNV
Suffolk   Boston September 8, 2022 Culex pipiens/ restuans complex Dorchester WNV
Suffolk   Boston September 1, 2022 Culex pipiens/ restuans complex Roslindale, West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park WNV
Suffolk   Boston August 29, 2022 Culex pipiens/ restuans complex Brighton, Jamaica Plain WNV
Suffolk   Boston August 16, 2022 Culex pipiens/ restuans complex Jamaica Plain, Dorchester WNV
Suffolk   Boston August 2, 2022 Culex pipiens/ restuans complex Roxbury, Mattapan WNV
Suffolk   Boston July 25, 2022 Culex pipiens/ restuans complex  Southwest WNV
Suffolk   Boston July 25, 2022 Culex pipiens/ restuans complex  Southwest WNV

Spraying

Mosquito spraying happens between dusk and 11:30 p.m. on scheduled days in targeted areas of the City (depending on weather).

SCMCP advises that if people see a spray truck approaching, they should go indoors for a few minutes. Residents should close any windows that face the street during scheduled spraying. View more information on spraying.

Application to exclude property from mosquito spraying

Residents can file to have their property excluded from spraying at any time of the year. You can file electronically through the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) or mail a paper form to MDAR. For questions, call Juan Carlos Gutierrez at 617-626-1723 or email Juan.Gutierrez@state.ma.us.

Scheduled Mosquito Spraying in Boston

Mosquito spraying is scheduled as needed during the summer and early fall. Mosquito spraying is subject to weather and may need to be rescheduled. Changes to scheduled spraying will be posted here. There are currently no sprayings scheduled in the City of Boston. 

Educational Materials

Additional resources

Additional resources
Mosquito-borne illness
Suffolk County Mosquito Control Project
Massachusetts State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board
Mosquito and Tick Educational Information from Mass.gov
Massachusetts Arbovirus Information
Arbovirus Surveillance 2010-2013
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