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DEM's WNV/EEE Page
  
News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
For Release: August 26, 2002
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM TO DISTRIBUTE ANOTHER ROUND OF LARVICIDE TO COMMUNITIES ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 29
Larviciding, Personal Protection Remain Cornerstones of State's Response Protocol for Mosquito-Borne Diseases

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management will distribute additional larvicide to Rhode Island communities on Thursday, August 29 as part of the state's response protocol for mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. The larvicide will be distributed from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at DEM's Pawtuxet Supply Depot at 230 Warwick Avenue in Cranston.

Cities and towns received this year's first batch of larvicide from DEM in May. The larvicide, Altosid, in the form of pellets, is placed in municipal stormwater catch basins several times during the mosquito season to try to limit the population of house mosquitoes (Culex species) that most frequently carry West Nile Virus. Catch basins are considered prime breeding areas of house mosquitoes in both urban and suburban settings. The use of larvicide is the best way for communities to reduce mosquito numbers and risk. Rhode Island's larviciding program is now in its third year.

Under the state's mosquito protocol, larviciding and personal protection remain as the cornerstones of Rhode Island's response protocol to West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). Personal protection is by far the most effective way of avoiding infection. Rhode Islanders should, as part of their normal seasonal routine, protect themselves from exposure to West Nile Virus and EEE by avoiding mosquito bites and eliminating mosquito breeding grounds. Based on last year's final tally, West Nile Virus showed up in 31 Rhode Island communities in all five counties, and the disease is clearly established throughout the state. Nationally, to date, it has been found in 41 states, including Rhode Island, from the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast to the Rocky Mountains.

DEM traps mosquitoes on a weekly basis and collects a sampling of dead crows and bluejays for testing. The birds can serve as indicators of West Nile virus in the environment but appear to be poor indicators of disease link to humans, who can contract the disease only by the bite of an infected mosquito. The Health Department (HEALTH) tests both birds and mosquitoes, and posts test results to its website, www.healthri.org, every

For information on protection measures, call the Department of 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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