DEM's WNV/EEE Page
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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade St., Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
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For Release: |
August 17, 2001 |
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Contact: |
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418; pager 482-2968
Malcolm Grant 222-6605
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2001 West Nile/EEE Status Update
August 17, 2001
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Mosquitoes: Six mosquito pools (samples) from five traps set on August 6 in Little Compton, Tiverton, Middletown, Jamestown and Smithfield are suspect positive for West Nile Virus. All are mammal-biters, with the possible exception of the Culex species, principally a bird-biter, trapped at the southern tip of Nannaquacket Pond in Tiverton. Other species and locations are:
- Anopheles quadrimaculatus, trapped at the Commons in Little Compton;
- Anopheles quadrimaculatus and Aedes vexans trapped on Oliphant Lane in Middletown near the Portsmouth border;
- Aedes canadensis trapped on North Road in Jamestown in the center of the island; and
- Coquillettidia perturbans trapped on Austin Avenue near Waterman Reservoir in Smithfield.
Birds: Not unexpectedly, two birds collected August 4 have tested positive for West Nile Virus. They are: a blue jay collected from North Smithfield and a crow collected from Warwick.
"Because these were small pools of mosquitoes, containing between one and at most three mosquitoes, the Health Department is conferring with the Centers for Disease Control and nearby states," said Malcolm Grant, Associate Director of DEM's Bureau of Natural Resources. "Nevertheless, these most recent findings should provide an urgent wakeup call to anyone who still believes that West Nile Virus is someone else's problem. It has clearly established itself in our resident mosquito population and most probably on a statewide basis."
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| ACTION |
In order to confirm its results, the HEALTH lab today brought samples from the six mosquito pools to the Massachusetts state lab for independent testing.
Meanwhile, DEM is setting additional mosquito traps in Little Compton, Middletown, Jamestown, Tiverton and Smithfield in the vicinity of the suspect positives.
West Nile Virus has been found in scattered locations throughout the state, and it is a statewide issue. Therefore, HEALTH is communicating with top officials in all Rhode Island communities to offer educational materials and to recommend that they issue advisories at outdoor events encouraging use of mosquito repellent with DEET for personal protection.
Residents should redouble efforts to protect themselves from exposure to West Nile Virus by avoiding mosquito bites and eliminating mosquito breeding grounds.
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| PERSONAL PROTECTION |
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.
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.
Eliminate mosquito breeding grounds by removing anything in yards that holds standing water, such as old tires, buckets, junk and debris, and clean gutters so that they drain properly.
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| PROTOCOL |
This year's mosquito response protocol is based on lessons learned last year and new findings issued by the Centers for Disease Control. Based on a growing recognition that infected birds appear to be poor indicators of disease risk to humans, spraying this year will be recommended only when a team of mosquito-control experts determines that the public is at substantial risk of being bitten by infected mosquitoes. |
| YEAR TO DATE |
To date, ten mosquito pools from seven communities have tested positive or suspect positive for West Nile Virus. Eight birds have also tested positive for West Nile Virus. |
DEM expects that birds infected with West Nile Virus will be found throughout the mosquito season. 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.
For information on protection measures, call DEM's recorded Mosquito Information Line at 222-2793 or HEALTH's Family Health Information Line at 1-800-942-7434, or visit www.healthri.org and/or www.dem.ri.gov on line.
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