Plymouth Public Health Department

01/25/2026

https://www.plymouth-ma.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/505

Due to the expected impacts of this weekend’s winter storm, Town offices and Plymouth Public Schools will be CLOSED on Monday, January 26 to ensure public safety.

09/30/2025

If you live and/or work in Plymouth, take the Plymouth Community Health Survey! You will be eligible to complete the survey and enter for a chance to win one of three raffle prizes: an iPad with an Owl, a $150 Amazon Gift Card, or a $100 Amazon Gift Card.

The Plymouth Community Health Survey is an opportunity for people who live and/or work in Plymouth to share their feedback and perspectives on health/wellbeing in our community.

Data collected from the survey will be used to gain a greater understanding of the issues impacting the health/wellbeing of residents and inform future planning and services in Plymouth.

Survey participation is completely voluntary and anonymous! Survey responses will not be linked to individual participants. The Town of Plymouth and HRiA will not sell any information collected from this survey.

07/03/2024

State Public Health Officials Announce Season’s First EEE-Positive Mosquito Samples In Carver. Plymouth’s risk level has been raised to moderate due to the proximity to Carver.

Truck based spraying will take place tonight from 2am-Sunrise. It will concentrate on the downtown area in preparation for the 4th of July festivities.

Residents urged to use bug spray when outdoors
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced that Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus has been detected in mosquitoes in Massachusetts for the first time this year. The presence of EEE was confirmed in mosquito samples collected on June 30 in the town of Carver in Plymouth County. No human or animal cases of EEE have been detected so far this year.
Today’s finding increases the risk level of EEE to moderate in the communities of Carver, Kingston, Middleborough, Plymouth, Plympton, and Wareham.
“The last EEE outbreak cycle in Massachusetts occurred in 2019-2020 and since then, there have been no human cases of EEE reported in the state,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “Today’s finding alerts us to the presence of EEE in Massachusetts this year. Combined with yesterday’s announcement of West Nile virus in mosquitoes in Massachusetts, we are asking everyone to take the necessary precautions to prevent mosquito bites. We recommend that people use mosquito repellent when they are spending time outdoors so they can celebrate the July 4th holiday and enjoy the rest of the summer without being bitten.”
EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. EEE is generally spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. There were 12 human cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2019 with six deaths; in 2020, there were five human cases and one death. There were no human cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2021, 2022 or 2023.
“EEE activity in Massachusetts tends to occur in outbreak cycles,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine M. Brown. “When EEE is found in mosquitoes like this at the start of the season, the risk may increase throughout the rest of the summer. We rely on our mosquito surveillance program to monitor for the presence of virus to let people know when and where the risk is occurring.”
Avoid Mosquito Bites
Apply Insect Repellent when Outdoors. Use a repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient (DEET (N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD) or IR3535) according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.
Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during the evening or early morning in areas of high risk.
Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Wearing long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
Mosquito-Proof Your Home
Drain Standing Water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools and change the water in birdbaths frequently.
Install or Repair Screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly fitting screens on all your windows and doors.
Protect Your Animals
Animal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools – especially after heavy rains. Water troughs provide excellent mosquito breeding habitats and should be flushed out at least once a week during the summer months to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas. Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitoes. Owners should also speak with their veterinarian about mosquito repellents approved for use in animals and vaccinations to prevent WNV and EEE. If an animal is suspected of having WNV or EEE, owners are required to report to the Department of Agricultural Resources, Division of Animal Health by calling 617-626-1795, and to the Department of Public Health by calling 617-983-6800.
More information, including all WNV and EEE positive results, can be found on the Arbovirus Surveillance Information web page at Mosquito-borne Diseases | Mass.gov, which is updated daily, or by calling the DPH Division of Epidemiology at 617-983-6800.

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https://www.mass.gov/news/state-public-health-officials-announce-seasons-first-eee-positive-mosquito-samples-0

Residents urged to use bug spray when outdoors

07/03/2024

Cyanobacteria Advisory - Great Herring Pond and Clear Pond
Effective 7/3/2024
Visual observations provided by the Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs indicate the presence of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) cells in the above-listed pond(s). This evidence suggests that the level of cyanobacteria in the water may exceed the MDPH guidelines for recreational waterbodies in Massachusetts.
Accordingly, as recommended by MDPH, a public health advisory is being issued by the Plymouth Public Health Division. An advisory cannot be lifted until the bloom has been visibly clear for two consecutive weeks.
This page is not monitored.
For questions, please call (508)747-1620 x 10118 or email: [email protected]

04/22/2024

04/03/2024

Spotlight on Children’s Mental Health Resources!
The Public Health Division is sharing their “go-to” resource for promoting kids’ mental health, called “Different Kinds of Hurt: Isaac's Story - Sparking Conversation About Children's Mental Health.” Isaac’s Story shows how an honest conversation about “different kinds of hurting” between classmates can have a lifelong effect.
Be sure to visit the Mass Dept. of Mental Health to see the film, read the book, and find more resources. https://www.mass.gov/isaacs-story

04/02/2024

Check out what's happening at the Plymouth Center for Active Living - COA!

“Feeling included within our community and having support is imperative to our mental and physical well-being. This National Public Health Week, join your community in supporting and advocating for public health. You can make a difference. Visit www.NPHW.org and https://www.plymouth-ma.gov/991/Health-and-Human-Services to learn more.”

04/01/2024

National Public Health Week 2024 is here and we want you to join us! Plymouth will be recognizing the power of public health and taking part by officially proclaiming National Public Health Week 2024. Visit www.NPHW.org and Plymouth HHS to learn more. To view this week's spotlight schedule, click the link below!
https://rb.gy/zigiha

03/25/2024

CYANOBACTERIA ADVISORY 3/25/2024 - Skokes Pond
Visual observations made today indicate the presence of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) cells in the above-listed pond(s). This evidence suggests that the level of cyanobacteria in the water may exceed the MDPH guidelines for recreational waterbodies in Massachusetts. Accordingly, as recommended by MDPH, a public health advisory is being issued by the Plymouth Public Health Department. Individuals are being warned against contact with the water. An advisory can not be lifted until the bloom has been visibly clear for two consecutive weeks.

02/15/2024

February is Heart Health Month! Eat your veggies, drink your water, and MOVE!

02/12/2024

PARKING BAN IN DOWNTOWN PLYMOUTH IN ANTICIPATION OF SNOW EVENT

WHEN: Due to the significant nature of the snowstorm predicted for Tuesday, February 13th, the Town of Plymouth will implement a parking ban within a specified zone in the downtown and North Plymouth areas of town.

The parking ban will begin on Tuesday (February 13th) at 7:00 a.m. and will run through Midnight.

WHAT: Vehicles parked on a public way within the specified zone will be subject to tagging and towing at the owner’s expense during the specified snow ban. During the snow emergency, free parking is available in any town-owned public parking lot as indicated in RED on the Parking Ban Map attached.

WHERE: The Parking Ban Zone encompasses all areas between the ocean and the following boundary:

Beginning at the most easterly terminus of Hedge Road, westerly to Court Street, westerly across Court Street to South Spooner Street, westerly on South Spooner Street to Standish Avenue, south on Standish Avenue to Samoset Street, east on Samoset to Oak Street, south on Oak Street to Summer Street, east on Summer to Pleasant Street, south on Pleasant to Robinson Street, west on Robinson to Mayflower Street, south on Mayflower to South Street, east on South Street to Sandwich Street, south on Sandwich Street to the entrance to Stephens Field. For a map of the Parking Ban Zone, please visit the Town’s website at www.plymouth-ma.gov

For more information, please visit the Town’s website, Facebook, or Twitter pages; call the Town’s Snow Line at (508) 830-4162, extension 12101; or tune to 95.9 WATD and 99.1 WPLM. In addition to the parking ban, the Public Works Department requests help from residents in staying off the roads during the storm in order to conduct snow removal operations. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Citizens who wish to register their phone numbers with the Plymouth & Bristol County Emergency Alert System (for both emergency and general notifications) may visit http://www.pcsdma.org/CodeRED.html or call the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department Field Services Division at (508) 830-6200. Please be advised that if you previously registered with the Plymouth Bristol Emergency Alert System, prior to August 2011, you must re-register your information with the new system provider, CodeRED.