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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM: SEPTEMBER 25 WEST NILE/EEE STATUS UPDATE DEM received confirmation late yesterday from the RI Department of Health Laboratory that a horse from Tiverton has tested positive for EEE. As a result of the positive finding, DEM will set additional mosquito traps in Tiverton and Little Compton. DEM's Division of Agriculture was notified on Monday that the horse had been displaying neurological symptoms of EEE for about 18 hours. DEM's state veterinarian, Scott Marshall, DVM euthanized the comatose animal and submitted samples to the HEALTH Laboratory for analysis. The specimen tested negative for rabies. The two year-old horse had not been properly vaccinated against EEE. The most common signs of viral encephalitis in horses are depression, stumbling, in-coordination, hind limb weakness, partial paralysis and muscle twitching. Fever can occur but is not present in all cases. These symptoms can occur in many equine diseases and should be reported to a veterinarian as soon as they are noticed so that a quick and accurate diagnosis can be made. Late summer and early fall are considered high-risk seasons for the transmission of both EEE and West Nile Virus to horses by infected mosquitoes. Dr. Marshall has issued several recommendations to horse owners to help protect their animals from getting bitten by mosquitoes. He advises horse owners to use repellents on their animals; consider stabling their horses indoors at dawn and dusk, which are considered heavy mosquito feeding times; remove free standing water from stable areas; and consult with their veterinarian to determine whether their horses are properly immunized, as vaccination is safe and effective in the prevention of EEE in horses. A vaccination for horses is also available for West Nile Virus. Horse barns are environments where mosquitoes can reproduce in large numbers. Horse owners are advised to protect themselves by using appropriate repellants and wearing protective clothing. They should also inspect barns for mosquito breeding areas and take measures to eliminate collected or stagnant water such as feed troughs and water basins. Horses should not be turned out to pasture and paddock during dawn, dusk and at night as these are times when mosquitoes are usually the most active. Horse owners who would like more information should contact their veterinarian, or may call the state veterinarian, Scott Marshall, DVM, at DEM's Division of Agriculture at 222-2781 ext. 4503. DEM notes that it is the height of the mosquito-borne disease transmission season and the possibility of disease transmission is increasingly likely. Throughout the mosquito season, residents are encouraged to protect themselves by eliminating mosquito breeding grounds and avoiding mosquito bites. Personal protection is the first line of defense against mosquitoes that can carry diseases such as West Nile Virus and EEE and is by far the most effective way of avoiding infection. Eliminate mosquito breeding grounds from yards by removing anything that holds standing water, such as old tires, buckets, junk and debris, clean gutters so that they drain correctly, and maintain swimming pools properly. Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Just one cup of standing water can produce hundreds of mosquitoes. Avoid mosquito bites by using screens on windows and doors, covering up at dawn and dusk, and putting mosquito netting over playpens and baby carriages when they are outside. Also, use mosquito repellent, but with no more than 30 percent DEET. Do not use repellent on infants. Mosquitoes are trapped every week statewide by DEM staff and tested at the RI Department of Health (HEALTH) laboratory. DEM will normally report mosquito test results once a week on a routine basis, with additional reports as necessary. Test results from mosquitoes trapped this week will be included in next week's announcement. Positive mosquito test results will generally trigger additional trapping to assess risk. This year, to date in Rhode Island, two mosquito pools have tested positive for West Nile Virus, and two mosquito pools have tested positive for EEE. West Nile Virus and EEE have been found in mosquito samples in New England states, including Massachusetts and Connecticut. For online information about mosquito-borne diseases, go to DEM's website, www.state.dem.ri.gov, and click on "Public Health Updates", or go to the HEALTH website, www.health.ri.gov, and click on "E" (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) or "W" ((West Nile Virus)) under "Health Topics". -30- |
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