Pittsfield's West Nile Risk Elevated; Council Asked to Resume Spraying

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With three cases of West Nile virus found in recent sampled mosquitos, the City Council on Tuesday will tackle requests to resume adulticide spraying.

On the agenda is a petition from Ward 4 Councilor James Conant requesting to repeal the action that eliminated spray applications for the control of adult mosquitos and that the Board of Health and Conservation Commission develop guidelines and protocols on spraying.

There is also a petition from Director of Public Health Andy Cambi asking the City Council to rescind the vote of no spraying in Pittsfield and review the Berkshire County Mosquito Control program.

Earlier this month, the Board of Health voted to urge the council to resume spraying to prevent human infection. Two years ago, the council voted to opt out of spraying adulticide against the board's recommendation.

There was said to be a "disconnect" between health officials and the city on the health issues. 

Most people don't develop any symptoms from a West Nile infection, but in those who do, it can result in fevers, rashes and nausea or more severe symptoms such as inflammations, convulsions or even paralysis. There is no cure. 

In the last two weeks of July, two mosquito samples tested positive for West Nile. One was located in the Elm Street and William Street area and the other was in the city center near Wahconah Park.

On Friday, a third mosquito tested positive for WNV in the vicinity of Cheshire Road and the city's risk level was elevated to moderate, meaning that human infection has likely occurred. At the time, there was not a documented case of human WNV.

In his communication to the council, Cambi relayed the information that was given to the Health Board from the mosquito control project's Superintendent Chris Horton during its Aug. 2 meeting.

Though the city opted out of adulticide spraying, the pre-emptive larval control and catch basin operations have remained.

Progressives March for Human Rights in Pittsfield

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
08:55AM / Sunday, January 19, 2025

Amelia Gilardi addresses the crowd at Park Square. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Around 100 people marched down North Street on Saturday in support of human rights. 

 

The Pittsfield People's March was designed to unite community members, raise awareness, and promote the fundamental rights of all people. It was one of numerous marches across the nation, including in Boston and the annual one (formerly the Women's March) in Washington, D.C. 

 

The marches started in 2017 in response to the first election of Donald Trump, who is set to sworn in for a second term on Monday. Saturday's marchers expressed their fears that the incoming administration will place money and power over the needs of the people. 

 

"For me, the motivation of this march was to make people see that we are all feeling similarly, that we are not isolated in our feelings, and that your neighbor feels like that, too," said march organizer Meg Arvin of Western MA 4 the Future.

 

"So one, it's not just you thinking this way, and two, you have other people that you can lean on to build that community with to feel like you are not in this by yourself and that you have other people who will be here to support you."

 

The first march, and its successors, have focused on fears of rights being chipped away, including women's bodily rights, free speech rights, voting rights and civil rights. The first Washington march drew nearly 500,000; Saturday's was estimated at 5,000.

 

Arvin, who moved from Tennessee a few years ago, said she comes from a state where rights have been taken away and knows what it looks like for people to be desperate for representation.