DEM CAUTIONS THAT MOSQUITO BITING ACTIVITY WILL INCREASE LATE THIS WEEK

RIDEM graphical banner, showing land and water scene

Home > News > News Item

Mosquito, EEE and WNV Page

News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462

For Release:	September 12, 2002
Contact:	Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402 Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM CAUTIONS THAT MOSQUITO BITING ACTIVITY WILL INCREASE LATE THIS WEEK
Personal Protection Measures Urged

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management says that Rhode Islanders can expect a noticeable increase in mosquito biting activity beginning late this week. That, says Alan Gettman, Ph.D., DEM's mosquito abatement coordinator, is because the heavy rainfall of two weeks ago resulted in pools of standing water, a habitat for immature mosquitoes. The rising water levels at that time hatched mosquito eggs that had been dormant during the long summer drought.

The mosquito season lasts until the first hard frost, generally at the end of October, but biting activity will decrease during cooler October weather, Gettman says. However, late summer through early fall is the peak season for mosquito-transmitted diseases. So far this year, EEE has been detected in one Rhode Island horse, but neither EEE nor West Nile Virus has been detected in mosquito samples collected by the DEM mosquito abatement coordinator's office and tested at the Department of Health laboratory. West Nile Virus has, however, been isolated from a number of crows and bluejays.

Dr. Gettman cautions that Rhode Islanders should continue to protect themselves from mosquito bites. "West Nile Virus is clearly established throughout the state," he says. "It is obvious that some mosquitoes in the environment are infected because birds that have tested positive for West Nile Virus acquired the virus from the bites of infected mosquitoes." Gettman also notes that West Nile Virus has been isolated this year in a number of mosquito pools in both Massachusetts and Connecticut. The virus has been found in birds, horses, mosquitoes or humans in more than 40 states this year, spreading far more rapidly than originally expected.

DEM will continue conducting mosquito and bird surveillance through the end of October. Residents are encouraged to call the bird surveillance hotline - 788-3698 - to report crows or bluejays that have died within 24 hours of discovery and that show no signs of external injury. Although only a sampling of birds that meet these criteria will be retrieved for testing, DEM will map the locations of the birds reported in order to identify areas where additional mosquito trapping and testing is needed.

Personal protection is still the first line of defense against mosquitoes that can carry diseases such as West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, 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.

Mosquito and bird test results are posted by HEALTH on its website, www.healthri.org. For information on protection measures, call HEALTH's Family Health Information line at 1-800-942-7434, visit the HEALTH website, or log on to DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov and click on "topics."

-30-

For General Information 222-6800 • After Hours Emergencies 222-3070 • Disclaimer