FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 08/07/2025
For further information, contact:
Susan Scully Petroni
City of Framingham Public Information Officer
spetroni@framinghamma.gov
508-782-8629
Mosquitoes in Framingham Test Positive For West Nile Virus
FRAMINGHAM - The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has notified the City of Framingham that mosquitoes collected within the city have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). As a result of these findings, Framingham has been elevated to a moderate risk level for West Nilke Virus.
The positive mosquito samples were identified by the MDPH Arbovirus Laboratory as part of routine mosquito surveillance conducted across the Commonwealth. Framingham is among several communities across the state, including Natick, Holliston, Newton, & Waltham, where the virus has been detected in mosquitoes.
There have been no human cases of WNV reported in Framingham in 2025.
WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. While the majority of people infected with WNV do not experience symptoms, the virus can cause serious illness, particularly in older adults and individuals with compromised immune systems.
The City of Framingham urges residents to take the following precautions to reduce their risk:
- Use insect repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient such as DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Wear long sleeves and long pants when outdoors, especially during peak mosquito hours from dusk to dawn.
- Eliminate standing water on your property, such as in buckets, flowerpots, gutters, and birdbaths, where mosquitoes breed.
- Ensure window and door screens are intact to prevent mosquitoes from entering homes.
The City’s Health Department is working closely with the MDPH and the local Mosquito Control Project to increase surveillance and implement additional mitigation strategies as necessary.
Spraying for mosquitoes will take place next week. The East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project has sprayed multiple times this year in the City of Framingham.
For more information on West Nile Virus and updates on arbovirus activity in Massachusetts, please visit the MDPH Arbovirus Update page:
🔗 https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-arbovirus-update
Residents with questions may contact the Framingham Health Department at [insert local contact info], or the MDPH at (617) 939-3988.
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