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Leominster Health Department
Wildlife
Ticks

In Massachusetts if you work or play outside, or even work in a garden, you should learn about Lyme Disease. It is a serious illness spread by ticks that can be so small that you may not be able to see them. To learn more about how to protect yourself and your family please go to www.mass.gov/dph/cdc/epii/lyme/lymehp.htm for information regarding ticks and diseases they can spread.
 
Rabies

Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals that is typically transmitted through the bite of infected wild animal. At this time more than 90% of the animal cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now occur in wildlife. The other 10% reported comes from domestic animals such as cats, cattle and dogs.

At the beginning of the twentieth century our country had approximately 100 deaths attributed to rabies each year. In the 1990’s this number has declined to one or two per year. In the United States, human fatalities associated with rabies occur in people who fail to seek medical assistance, just because they were unaware of their exposure.

Residents of Leominster should follow these guidelines:

Stay away from wild animals. Infected animals may act friendly and come close enough to humans to allow a bite.

If you are bitten or scratched by a wild animal wash the area with hot soapy water for at least 10 minutes. Contact your primary care physician for possible need for vaccination series.

Vaccinate your dogs and cats against rabies and keep records of each vaccination.

For more information please try the following websites:

www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies
 
Mosquito Control

The City of Leominster is a member of the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project (CMMCP) District 2. The project controls mosquito populations by managing standing water, larvaciding, adultciding and through biological control. The Leominster Health Department receives records of all the project activities that are performed within the city limits. The Health Department considers this project to be more important each year due to the increasing number of people affected by Mosquito borne illness in the commonwealth.

For further information please contact the CMMCP at 11 Otis Street in Northborough, Ma. 01532. They can be also be reached by phone Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 3:30 at 508-393-3055.
 
West Nile Virus

Dead Bird Reporting:

Please report dead birds to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) Public Health Information line, at 866-MASS-WNV (866-627-7968) and choose option one. Reports of dead birds are considered a useful indicator of where to focus mosquito surveillance and bird testing efforts. Beginning May 17, 2004, staff will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to take dead bird reports and select a sample for WVV testing. Callers will be asked to give specifics of the bird, date and time of death, street address where the bird was found, and the condition of the bird. All complete dead bird reports will be entered into the MDPH dead bird reports database for surveillance purposes.

For information about Beavers, Rabies and all wildlife issues in Massachusetts contact MassWildlife at http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfw_toc.htm