City of Lynn

Welcome to the Lynn Public Health Divisions Environmental Health page. 

Here you will find any Public Health notices, including but not limited to: food/product recalls, 
combined sewer overflows, drought information, health exposures, and other environmental health factors that affect the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Lynn. 

September 1, 2026

Harmful Algal Bloom - Turtle Pond at Pine Grove Cemetery 
Waterbody may be unsafe for people and pets. 

Information about Cyanobacteria Bloom:
A cyanobacteria bloom is a rapid overgrowth of cyanobacteria (blue green algae) in water, often triggered by warm, nutrient rich, slow moving conditions, and it can produce dangerous cyanotoxins such as microcystins, anatoxins, cylindrospermopsins, and saxitoxins.

Key factors that promote cyanobacterial blooms include:

• Warm water temperatures
• Slow moving or stagnant water
• High nutrient levels, especially nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizer runoff, sewage, or stormwater inputs
• Sunlight availability and weather patterns
  
• Water body characteristics and competing microorganisms

Reporting Sick or Dead Birds:

• If you see 5+ dead or sick wild birds at one spot, or if you find a bald eagle, peregrine falcon, or snowy owl
  • https://www.mass.gov/forms/report-observations-of-dead-wild-birds
    • The form asks for your contact info, location, species, number of birds, symptoms, and optional photos
  • Domestic birds (chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, etc.):
    • Call the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Division of Animal Health at 617-626-1795 or use their poultry disease reporting form https://www.mass.gov/info-details/report-observations-of-dead-wild-birds-confirmation.
      

Air Quality Monitoring System:

Interested in learning about the air quality data?

Visit: http://www.airnow.gov/

Combined Sewer Overflow -

Combined sewer overflow (CSO) notifications are distributed by the Lynn Water and Sewer Commission.
To register for Lynn notifications, click here.

Combined sewer overflow were built as part of sewer collection systems that were designed to carry both sewage and stormwater in the same pipe. When there is not a lot of stormwaters, this mix is transported to a wastewater treatment plant where it is processed.

For more information about Massachusetts role in Sanitary Sewer Systems & Combined Sewer Overflows, please visit:
Mass.gov - Sanitary Sewer Systems & Combined Sewer Overflows

Bird Flu
How can you protect yourself and your animals from bird flu?

For more information, visit the following links below:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 
  H5N1 Bird Flu: Current Situation Summary
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 
  Information on Bird Flu
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 
  How CDC is monitoring influenza data to better understand the current avian influenza A (H5N1) situation in people
• U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA): 
  Updates on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
• U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA): 
  Questions and Answers Regarding Milk Safety During Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Outbreaks

PREVENT EXPOSURE TO HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA VIRUS IN YOUR POULTRY FLOCK
English PDF Version: Prevent exposure to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus in your Poultry Flock

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES: BIOSECURITY: Protecting Your Backyard Flock 
English PDF Version: MDAR: BIOSECURITY: Protecting Your Backyard Flock
Spanish PDF Version: MDAR: BIOSEGURIDAD: Proteja a su parvada de traspatio

OTHER LANGUAGES AVAILABLE
Portuguese PDF Version: MDAR: BIOSSEGURANÇA: Proteja seu Bando de Quintal
Simplified Chinese PDF Version: MDAR: 生物安全： 保护你的后院家禽安全
Vietnamese PDF Version: MDAR: AN NINH SINH HỌC: Bảo Vệ Đàn Gia Cầm Nhà Bạn
Arabic PDF Version: MDAR: الأمن

For more information, please visit: Poultry Program | mass.gov

United States Department of Agriculture: Checklist for Cleaning and Disinfecting Poultry Enclosures
"Keeping poultry houses, coops, and other enclosures clean is one of the best ways to prevent germs from spreading among poultry flocks. A thorough cleaning, and then applying disinfectant, takes time. But the process is vital to stop disease spread and keep our flocks healthy. If you see or suspect anything unusual, call your flock supervisor, veterinarian, or cooperative extension office right away. Use this form to record phone numbers for contacts in your area. The earlier you act, the easier it is to contain the disease to a single flock."

English PDF Version: Checklist for Cleaning and Disinfecting Poultry Enclosures

West Nile/EEE
September 2026

From June to October, the MA Department of Public Health (DPH) conducts testing for West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) from mosquito samples across the state. 

Currently, the risk for WNV in Lynn is MODERATE, while the risk for EEE is LOW.

What you can do to prevent WNV infection (Per MA DPH): 
1.  Be prepared: Know your risk -check this page regularly, repair screens, clean up to get rid of mosquito breeding sites, be aware of stagnant water on private property (e.g. unused swimming pools)  and consult the local board of health.
2.  Wear long sleeves and long pants from dusk to dawn when weather permits
3.  Use mosquito netting on baby carriages and playpens
4.  Wear mosquito repellent when outdoors,  especially between dusk and dawn
5.  Dump standing water twice weekly

For more info, including updated risk maps from DPH, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-arbovirus-update

Recalls