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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade St., Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM: WEST NILE, EEE UPDATE PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces that test results from 80 mosquito pools from 25 traps set statewide on July 23 are negative for both West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis.Not unexpectedly, two crows collected from North Kingstown and Portsmouth on August 2 and a bluejay collected from Coventry on August 6 tested positive for West Nile Virus. Thirteen other birds tested last week were confirmed negative for the disease. Under the state's mosquito protocol, additional mosquito traps will be set tonight in North Kingstown, Portsmouth, and Coventry, and residents are encouraged to increase personal protection, such as eliminating mosquito breeding grounds and avoiding mosquito bites. Personal Protection Tips Steps Rhode Islanders can take to avoid mosquito bites include: 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. Residents are urged to get rid of anything in their yards that holds standing water, such as old tires, buckets, junk and debris, and to make sure their gutters are clean so that they drain properly. Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Just one cup of standing water can produce thousands of mosquitoes. Previous West Nile Positives Four pools of mosquitoes and three birds have previously tested positive for West Nile Virus in Rhode Island this season. Bird Surveillance DEM expects that birds infected with West Nile Virus will be found throughout the mosquito season. The most recent crows that tested positive were collected from Narrow Lane in North Kingstown and Middle Road in Portsmouth and the bluejay was collected from Prince Street in Coventry. While infected birds appear to be poor indicators of disease risk to humans, their sensitivity to West Nile Virus may be useful in tracking the spread of the disease in the environment. Wildlife rehabilitators, veterinarians, animal control officers and others are being asked to report suspect target species - crows, bluejays and hawks - to DEM's bird hotline at 788-3698. Target species that are sick with neurological symptoms such as staggering or tilted head, or those that have been dead less than 48 hours and have no obvious signs of injury will be considered for testing. They will be retrieved by DEM personnel and transported to labs at the Health Department and at the University of Rhode Island for testing. More Information Toll-free information about protection from mosquitoes is available during normal weekday business hours by calling HEALTH's Family Health Information Line at 1-800 942-7434. DEM also has recorded information on its Mosquito Information Line at 222-2793. Information is also available on the DEM and HEALTH websites at www.dem.ri.gov and www.healthri.org. -30- |
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