DEM SAYS TWO HORSES TEST POSITIVE FOR WEST NILE VIRUS

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

For Release:	October 2, 2003
Contact:	Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402 Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM SAYS TWO HORSES TEST POSITIVE FOR WEST NILE VIRUS
Mosquito Season Not Over; People Statewide Should Continue to Protect Themselves

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announced today that two horses in Washington County, both recovering, have tested positive for West Nile Virus. The results are not unexpected, since West Nile Virus is prevalent throughout the state.

One horse, stabled in the Hope Valley area of Hopkinton, became ill around September 25, and is the first concrete West Nile positive isolation from that community. The second horse, stabled in the Carolina area of Charlestown, became ill around September 15. That horse is the second positive West Nile Virus isolation in that community, the first being a previously reported mosquito sample from Burlingame State Park.

West Nile Virus has a lower mortality rate than Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Although older people seem to be at more risk, people of all ages can and do become ill. Nationwide this year there have been more than 5,800 confirmed human cases of West Nile Virus, including two in Rhode Island, and 115 deaths from the disease, none in Rhode Island.

Despite this week's cooler temperatures, which have led to lower mosquito biting activity, 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.

DEM and the Health Department urge that all Rhode Islanders continue to take precautions against mosquito bites until the first hard frost. Although a light frost is forecast for tonight, officials do not expect tonight's frost to reduce the mosquito threat or to kill a substantial portion of the mosquito population.

Protection includes using mosquito repellent, covering up when mosquito biting activity is greatest, particularly from dusk to dawn and when in the woods, placing mosquito netting over playpens and carriages outside, and being sure that screens are in good repair.

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