For Release: August 24, 1998

Contact: Alan Gettman,Ph.D. 222-6151

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management has received test results showing that 13 isolations of exclusively bird-biting mosquitoes, Culiseta, collected Tuesday night, August 18 at Pound Road in Westerly's Chapman Swamp tested positive for Highland J virus. One other isolation was found in South Kingstown. The Culiseta mosquitoes are not human biters.

This is an increase in the numbers of mosquito pools found with the Highland J virus, which first appeared this year in samples collected July 20. The findings are not unexpected, for they are detected almost every year.

"The Highland J virus," said Alan Gettman, DEM Mosquito Abatement Coordinator, "does not produce disease in humans. However, it is used as an indicator that environmental conditions are right for the Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus and that the level of risk may be higher.

"Although the presence of Highland J has been detected only in bird-biters," Gettman said, "and EEE has not been detected, people should continue to take normal precautions against mosquitoes until the first hard frost."

Those precautions include ensuring screens are in good repair, wearing protective clothing such as long pants and long-sleeved shirts at dawn and dusk, and applying products containing no more than 30 percent of the mosquito repellent DEET to clothing. Repellents should not be used on infants, and children should be cautioned to avoid getting repellents in their eyes. Residents should also keep their backyards free of water-holding containers that create areas where mosquitoes can be produced.

The mosquito abatement program has information on a website: www.uri.edu/research/eee There is also a DEM webpage with rabies contacts information.