Worcester Board of Health hears communicable disease update: COVID, West Nile, dengue and chikungunya discussed
Loading...
Summary
City Division of Public Health reported no major shifts in disease prevalence for September: COVID remained most prevalent, influenza activity was low, West Nile positives were detected in mosquito testing, and travel‑related dengue and chikungunya cases were noted.
The Worcester Board of Health received a monthly communicable-disease update from Amelia Houghton, chief public health nurse for the Division of Public Health, covering September data on COVID-19, influenza and arboviruses.
Houghton told the board that "COVID 19 remains the most prevalent condition." She reported 187 new confirmed COVID cases in September compared with about 193 in August. Influenza activity was described as "pretty low" and there were no measles or malaria cases in September; a small number of salmonellosis cases occurred.
On arboviruses, Houghton summarized regional mosquito surveillance results and personal-protection recommendations. She said Central Massachusetts/Worcester County testing ran from June 15 through Oct. 10 and included 8,788 specimens; eight samples tested positive for West Nile virus. The Central Mass Mosquito Control Project completed aerial and ground spraying and maps are available online. Houghton reiterated standard prevention advice: repair window screens, use EPA‑registered repellents during dusk-to-dawn hours, wear long sleeves and pants, and protect pets in consultation with veterinarians. She also cited state reporting requirements for suspected animal cases to the Department of Agricultural Resources and the State Department of Public Health.
Houghton described travel‑associated arboviruses: as of Oct. 14 there were four chikungunya virus infections (one in Worcester County) and 23 dengue infections (three in Worcester County). She explained CHIKV (chikungunya virus) causes "febrile illness with debilitating joint pain" in some cases and that no licensed vaccine was available as of 2024, though candidate vaccines are in advanced trials.
Dr. Michael Hirsch, the division’s medical director, added context about COVID trends and other concerns. He said weekly COVID counts were down, noting "Our COVID numbers for the week ending in October 11 were down to 634 for the week. Previous [meeting] I reported that the number was 1,700 plus." Hirsch cautioned that cooler weather could drive indoor transmission and said many hospital emergency‑department patients who test positive for COVID do not present for COVID symptoms; he described this iteration of COVID as "pretty mild" but noted a subset of patients experience severe throat pain described as "razor blade throat." He also raised concerns about surveillance capacity at the federal level and later described a separate livestock/food-safety concern: reductions in USDA screening could increase risk of livestock pests such as screwworm in some regions, which he said has public‑health implications if screening and import safeguards decline.
Board members asked about vaccine availability and accessibility; Hirsch said COVID vaccine remained widely available in the Northeast and was offered in local pharmacies without a doctor’s note in Massachusetts. Houghton and staff pointed attendees to Mass.gov and the weekly arbovirus reports for maps and additional public guidance.
The board did not take regulatory action on the update; staff requested the board share the report and continue routine surveillance reporting.
