Board of Health, Paxton MA

09/03/2025

ETA 9/4/2025* WNV Risk maps have been updated and much of the state is now showing as moderate risk, including our town.

Good morning,

The Board of Health today received notice from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health of a POSSIBLE positive test for West Nile Virus in our area. Please note that there is no way to confirm that any illness would be related to a mosquito bite occurring in Paxton. The sample is being tested and is NOT considered a positive case until confirmed, but unfortunately this can take 2+weeks. In the interim, we would like to notify the community of this development so that Individuals can make informed decisions regarding their outdoor activities.

While there have been several West Nile Virus mosquito samples that have returned positive in communities near our town, overall risk currently remains low per the MDPH risk maps. However, individuals may wish to take precautions during peak mosquito activity at dawn and dusk by limiting outdoor activities as they deem appropriate, wearing long sleeves/pants, and using a mosquito repellant with an EPA-approved active ingredient.

Find local risk levels for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV) based on seasonal testing from June to October.

10/28/2024

DO YOU SMELL SMOKE IN THE AIR? Brush fires fueled by dry and windy conditions are burning in dozens of communities across Massachusetts.

09/27/2024

All households are again eligible to order 4 free COVID tests at COVIDtests.gov:

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with the U.S. Postal Service has reopened COVIDtests.gov as of today, so that households across the country can order four additional over-the-counter COVID-19 tests for free. These tests are intended for use throughout the 2024 holiday season to detect currently circulating COVID-19 variants. Clear instructions are included on how to verify extended expiration dates.

COVID-19 testing can help you know if you have COVID-19 so you can decide what to do next, like getting treatment to reduce your risk of severe illness and taking steps to lower your chances of spreading the virus to others.

07/23/2024

There have been several positive West Nile Virus mosquito samples in the state, including as nearby as Worcester. As a precaution, please use mosquito repellents with an EPA-registered active ingredient and note that peak mosquito activity occurs at dusk and dawn. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-arbovirus-update

04/04/2024

We are just 17 days away from our 5th annual townwide trash pick-up event: April 22 to May 1st.

Thank you Pellegrino Trucking Company Inc. for donating the dumpster and thank you Soccer Asylum for hosting the dumpster.

See our website for dumpster details & restrictions and sign up to clean an area in town. https://sites.google.com/view/pick-it-up-paxton/home

Please do your part and help make Paxton litter-free!

Town of Paxton Board of Health, Paxton MA - please reshare this post to help get the word out!

09/08/2023

West Nile Virus is still being found in mosquito samples from our area. There have also been 3 human cases of WNV so far this year in Massachusetts. Although this number not unusual, it does demonstrate the presence of transmissible virus in local mosquito populations. Recommendations for mitigation include taking extra precautions at dawn and dusk, wearing long sleeves/pants, and using insect repellant with EPA approved ingredients. More information, including all WNV and EEE positive results, can be found on the Arbovirus Surveillance Information web page at https://www.mass.gov/mosquito-borne-diseases, which is updated daily,

Official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

07/26/2023

Good morning Paxton- this year with the wet weather we’ve had, you may have noticed how many bugs there are, including an uptick (see what I did there?) in mosquitos. These buggies can carry a number of diseases, one being West Nile Virus- which has recently been detected in mosquito sampling in nearby Worcester.

Although overall risk remains low, recommended public health measures to prevent West Nile Virus, along with other arboviruses, include using mosquito repellents with an EPA-registered active ingredient and being cognizant of peak mosquito activity at dusk and dawn. Residents may also wish to consider removing areas of standing water where mosquitos may breed - sucks as buckets, wheelbarrows, etc. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health will continue enhanced surveillance activities in our region due to this positive sampling.

For more information including daily risk maps, please click on the following link:
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-arbovirus-update .

05/13/2023

https://www.mass.gov/news/department-of-public-health-advises-consumers-to-discard-mung-bean-sprouts-from-chang-farm

Department of Public Health advises consumers to discard mung bean sprouts from Chang Farm

Company recalls product due to ongoing Listeria contamination

01/23/2023

TRASH PICKUP IS DELAYED 1/23/2023

Attention Paxton Residents: Due to inclement weather, there will be no trash pickup tomorrow, January 23rd, 2023. Trash will be delayed by a day for the rest of the week (Monday pickup with occur Tuesday, Tuesday pickup with occur Wednesday, and so on). Stay safe and enjoy the snow!

12/23/2022

There is a new telehealth service available for prescription paxlovid. Stay well, everyone!