DEM's WNV/EEE Page
|
|
News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade St., Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
|
For Release: |
September 19, 2001 |
|
Contact: |
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418; pager 482-2968
Malcolm Grant 222-6605
|
2001 West Nile/EEE Status Update
Wednesday, September 19, 2001
| NEW |
Mosquitoes: Test results from 104 of 106 mosquito pools (samples) from 29 traps set statewide between August 30 and September 4 are negative for both West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. (Two pools were previously reported as positive: one for Eastern Equine Encephalitis and one for Highlands J.)
Birds: Forty-four new birds, primarily crows, from 11 communities collected between September 8 and September 14, have tested positive for West Nile Virus. They include 8 from South Kingstown, seven each from Westerly and Charlestown, six from North Kingstown, five from Hopkinton, three each from Richmond and Narragansett, two from East Greenwich, and one each from Cumberland, Tiverton and East Providence. The jump in numbers is not unexpected, and is similar to the state's experience last year at this stage of the mosquito season.
"It is important to remember that West Nile Virus builds up in both mosquito and bird populations as those populations exchange the disease back and forth between themselves: diseased birds infecting mosquitoes, diseased mosquitoes infecting yet more birds. All this takes time," said Malcolm Grant, DEM's Associate Director for Natural Resources Management. "It is also important to recognize that the diseased birds we are reporting today would have been infected by biting mosquitoes at least several weeks ago."
Mosquito-borne disease has been found throughout the region and residents throughout the state, particularly in southern communities, should redouble efforts to protect themselves from exposure to West Nile Virus by avoiding mosquito bites and eliminating mosquito breeding grounds.
Findings of West Nile Virus and EEE in mosquitoes and birds should be peaking within the next couple of weeks. The weather is becoming cooler, and mosquito biting activity will correspondingly slow down.
|
| ACTION |
Extra mosquito traps will be set in response to the West Nile Virus-positive birds and routine weekly testing for West Nile Virus and EEE statewide will continue.
|
| PERSONAL PROTECTION |
Personal protection is the first line of defense against mosquitoes that can carry diseases such as EEE and West Nile Virus 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.
|
| PROTOCOL |
This year's mosquito response protocol is based on lessons learned last year and new findings issued by the Centers for Disease Control. 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, 14 mosquito pools from nine communities have tested positive or suspect positive for West Nile Virus and three mosquito pools from one community have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Ninety-four birds have also tested positive for West Nile Virus. |
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.
-30-
|
