Mosquito-borne diseases

Learn how to protect yourself from illness.

West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE or “Triple E”) are viruses that occur in Massachusetts and can cause illness ranging from a mild fever to more serious disease like encephalitis or meningitis. There are other diseases spread by mosquitoes that people may be exposed to when traveling in other regions of the world. These include Zika virus, Dengue fever, and Chikungunya. Learn how to protect yourself from illness by doing simple things: using insect repellents; wearing long-sleeved clothing; scheduling outdoor activities to avoid the hours around dawn and dusk during peak mosquito season; repairing damaged window and door screens; and removing standing water from the areas around your home.

What you need to know

Mosquito-borne disease information for the general public 
Mosquito-borne disease information for health care providers and veterinarians 
Current WNV and EEE Activity (June – October) 
Mosquito-borne disease educational materials 
Surveillance Plan and historical data 
Travel-related mosquito-borne diseases 
See all 15 

Contact Information

Address

State Public Health Laboratory
305 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
directions 

Phone

Infectious Disease Division (617) 983-6550
Urgent calls and infectious disease reporting (617) 983–6800
Laboratory Sciences Division (617) 983–6201

Fax

Infectious Disease Division (617) 983–6925
Laboratory Sciences Division (617) 983–6210

Additional Resources

Mosquitoes and Ticks – They’re Out in Mass!
Image credits:  Ponkapoag Path (Matt Naughton)
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