DPH to Dog Owners: Be a Good Neighbor and Pick Up After Your Pet

Removing and disposing your dog's waste: It's the law.

The following information was provided by Lexington's Health Division. Now that Spring has arrived, it is a great time to remind dog walkers and owners to pick up after their dog. It is important for dog walkers and owners to remember that it is your responsibility to pick up after your dog. As dog populations continue to rise, dog waste has become a bigger concern than it may have been in the past. Stepping in dog waste can be an embarrassing experience for anyone and especially for a child on a playing field or on the way to school. As a dog walker or owner, be prepared to pick up after your dog whenever you take your dog outside. Excuses such as “it will eventually go away,” “it’s in the woods,” “small dog, small waste,” “it’s …

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Helicopters Being Used for Mosquito Control Over Lexington Wetlands

Application of the biological larvicide Bti will take place between April 17 and 25.

The following information was provided by Lexington's Public Health Division. The East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project will be conducting a helicopter application of the biological larvicide, Bti, to control mosquito larvae over large wetlands in Lexington. Wetlands currently being evaluated include Tophet Swamp, Hayden Woods, the Five Fields Area, Great Meadows, the Meagherville Conservation area and the upper Vine Brook area. The application will take place between April 17 and April 25. The Bti will be applied in a granular formulation by a helicopter flying low directly over the wetlands. Residents do not need to take any special precautions for this application. The material to be applied Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis var. …

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Attack of the Norovirus?

A new strain of the ‘Winter Vomiting Bug’ has reached the United States, but Lexington's Health Division did not indicate there is increased cause for alarm here.

  Much has been said about the nasty flu season that’s upon us. Meanwhile, the norovirus, or winter vomiting bug, has also been making its rounds. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the norovirus is responsible for about 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths each year, and a new strain has reached the United States this year. Common symptoms of the so-called winter vomiting bug include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pains. Outbreaks of norovirus, sometimes called the "stomach flu," are common in communal settings such as schools, daycare facilities and nursing homes, according to literature provided by Lexington's Health Division. A new norovirus strain, GII.4 Sydney, was detected last year in …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Aug. 21

Summer concerts, public health at the farmers market and more today in Lexington.

1. Bicentennial Band's Last Concert of the Summer: The Lexington Bicentennial Band, under the direction of Jeffrey P. Leonard and Alfred W. Dentino, began its outdoor concert series on Tuesday June 26, and continued every Tuesday evening throughout the summer, up through its final concert today, Aug. 21. These free concerts are held at 7:15 p.m. at the bandstand Hastings Park, at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Worthen Road. 2. Health Fair at the Farmers Market: Kicking off the Lexington Health Communitites Project, the Lexington Health Division will hold a Healthy Communities Fair at the Lexington Farmer's Market  from 2 to 4 p.m. today. The fair will feature a community survey, art project, and free blood pressure screenings 3. …

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Healthy Communities Project Coming to Lexington Farmers Market

Lexington's Health Division will host a fair at the farmers market as it begins working to identify ways to improve health and quality of life in Lexington.

A trip to the local farmers market could be even better for your health in the weeks ahead as the Lexington Health Division plans to kick off its Healthy Communities Project amid fruits, vegetables and artisan offerings.    According to a press release, the Health Division will host a “Healthy Communitites Fair” at the Lexington Farmers Market from 2 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 21 and Aug. 28. This serves as the kick-off for the Healthy Communities Project, an 18-month community planning process that aims to identify ways to improve health and quality of life in Lexington. According to Public Health Nurse David Neylon, the Health Division was recently awarded a $15,000 planning grant to gauge Lexington’s overall strengths and weakness, and what may …

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West Nile Discovered in Lexington Mosquito Pool

The following announcement was provided by the town of Lexington's Health Division.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced this week that West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Lexington, Belmont, Waltham, Framingham, Boston and Arlington. WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection. Culex mosquitoes are the primary vectors or carriers of West Nile Virus. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state, and are found in urban as well as more rural areas. Culex mosquitoes need shallow stagnant water to reproduce. While most mosquito species develop in wetlands, Culex mosquitoes prefer urban …

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Heat Safety Tips from Local Health Officials

With scorchers in the forecast for the next few days if you can't beat the heat, you might as well stay safe.

With a heat wave in the forecast and temperatures expected to reach the upper 90s over the next few days, local officials are taking precautions to help Lexington residents avoid heat-related emergencies. Town swimming facilities will be open extended hours through Friday, June 22. The town pool complex will be open from 12 to 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20, Thursday, June 21 and Friday, June 22. The Old Reservoir will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on those same days. Additionally, the Board of Health has issued a number of health precautions, including old standards like drinking plenty of fluids, wearing light-colored clothing and avoiding direct sunlight in the middle of the day. Late Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service…

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: April 6

Good Friday, a rabies clinic, tax bills and more today in Lexington.

1. It's Good Friday: And that means the Lexington Public Schools and adminstrative offices are closed. Town offices are open. 2. Free Rabies Clinic Saturday: Lexington Health officials, animal control and the Burlington Veterinary Hospital are collaborating to host a rabies vaccine clinic for dogs and cats belonging to Lexington residents. This clinic will be held rain or shine on Saturday, April 7. Dogs will be vaccinated during the first hour, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and cats will be vaccinated from 10:45 to 11: 45 a.m. There are a limited number of doses available and pre-registration is required. All dogs must be on a leash and owners shall have a bag to clean up after their dog. All cats must be in carriers. 3. Fourth Quarter Property…

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Health Officials to Host Dog and Cat Rabies Vaccination Clinic

To be held April 7 at Cary Hall.

April has been designated as Rabies Awareness Month by the Lexington Board of Health. For the first time in recent years, Lexington has joined other communities across Massachusetts to organize rabies vaccination clinics for residents with pets. “Pet owners often comment that a typical visit to the veterinarian may cost over $100,” said Gerard Cody, the health director in Lexington. “Unfortunately, whether or not to vaccinate a pet against rabies may be a financial choice. A rabies only vaccination clinic is available for the first time in Lexington to try and promote the vaccination of household pets against this disease and to bring attention to this important vaccination for both human and pet health.” Massachusetts law requires that …

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DPH: Check for Ticks After Outdoor Activities

Wear light-colored long sleeves, pants and socks so it’s easier to spot ticks; tuck your pants in your socks and other lessons on Lyme disease and tick bite prevention from Lexington's Department of Public Health.

The following was provided by the Lexington Board of Health. Whether it’s hiking in the woods or just working in your yard, outdoor activities put you at risk for contracting Lyme disease. Lexington’s Office of Community Development, Health Division and the Board of Health want to educate local residents of the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease, and what you can do to prevent it. Annual confirmed cases of Lyme disease in Lexington average in the low teens and have remained constant over the last few years. Lyme disease is a potentially debilitating bacterial infection spread through the bite of an infected deer tick (Ixodes scapularis). Most humans are infected through the bite of immature deer ticks called nymphs. Deer ticks wait in the …

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