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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM ANNOUNCES NEW EEE AND WEST NILE VIRUS ISOLATIONS Special Cautions Expanded to Tiverton/Little Compton Area, but all Rhode Islanders Should Continue to Avoid Mosquito Bites PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management today announced seven new isolations of Eastern Equine Encephalitis or West Nile Virus in five communities. The results are not unexpected, since West Nile Virus is prevalent throughout the state, and EEE historically has been found in coastal communities in Rhode Island and neighboring states. This year, in fact, has proven to be a higher than average risk year for EEE in the area. EEE has been found for the first time this season in Tiverton, in two homing pigeons collected on September 26 in the northwest part of town, south of the Sakonnet Bridge. In response, DEM and the Health Department are cautioning residents of the Tiverton/Little Compton area, where EEE historically has been found, to step up personal protection from mosquito bites and consider restricting or curtailing outdoor activities when biting activity is high. They are also recommending to officials in Tiverton and Little Compton that outdoor public assemblies that occur at times of high mosquito biting activity be rescheduled, relocated, or, if necessary cancelled. Those times would primarily be in early evening, when temperatures are warm and the air is still. The cautions mirror those offered late last week to Washington County, where EEE activity is higher than it has been for a number of years. The other new EEE isolations were from mosquitoes trapped on September 22 in Charlestown between Route 1 and Charlestown Beach, mosquitoes trapped on September 24 in the Quonset area of North Kingstown, and mosquitoes trapped on September 24 at the University of Rhode Island's Peckham Farm in the Kingston area of South Kingstown. All Washington County areas have previously been cautioned about increased EEE activity in the county. URI officials had already taken precautions due to previous EEE positive mosquitoes in Washington County and DEM and Health officials are recommending that students be reminded of the need to take personal protection against mosquito bites. The two West Nile Virus isolations were found in mosquitoes trapped on September 22 in the northwest area of Middletown and in Burlingame State Park in Charlestown. DEM has been notifying campers at Burlingame via an educational flyer of EEE activity in Washington County since last Friday's Washington County-wide caution, and will now also be notifying all park and campground visitors of the West Nile-positive mosquito pool found in the park itself. Although biting activity this week has decreased due to cooler weather, there are still infected mosquitoes in the environment. Biting activity will increase on warm days. Biting activity depends on several conditions. It is generally greatest at dawn and dusk. During the day it decreases in sunny areas at lower temperatures and increases in shady areas at higher temperatures. Biting activity also generally increases with high humidity and with low wind. Although residents of Washington County, Tiverton and Little Compton should take extra precautions because of the higher than usual numbers of EEE-positive isolations in the area, it is important for all Rhode Islanders to continue to protect themselves against mosquito bites, since mosquito-borne disease, particularly West Nile Virus, is prevalent throughout the state. People should routinely use mosquito repellent, and cover up when mosquito biting activity is greatest, particularly from dusk to dawn and when in the woods, place mosquito netting over playpens and carriages outside, and be sure that screens are in good repair. To date, in Rhode Island, 11 mosquito pools in four communities have tested positive for EEE and two horses and several birds have died of the disease. Six mosquito pools in six communities have tested positive for West Nile Virus, the Department of Health has reported two human cases of the disease, and DEM has tallied more than 600 West Nile-suspect birds from throughout the state. -30- |
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