DEM ANNOUNCES NEW EEE AND WEST NILE VIRUS ISOLATIONS

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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 6, 2003
Contact:	Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402 Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM ANNOUNCES NEW EEE AND WEST NILE VIRUS ISOLATIONS
Despite Cooler Weather, Mosquito Season Not Over; People Statewide Should Continue to Protect Themselves

The Department of Environmental Management today announced three new isolations of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and one of West Nile Virus in three communities where previous isolations of mosquito-borne disease have been found. The findings are not unexpected at this late date in the mosquito season.

The EEE isolations include a horse from the Hope Valley area of Hopkinton that was euthanized on September 25 and a pool (sample) of bird-biting mosquitoes collected on September 29 from the Chapman Swamp area. In addition, a third homing pigeon from the same flock in the northwest area of Tiverton where two others were previously reported has died of EEE. A pool of bird-biting mosquitoes collected on October 1 from the northeast area of Tiverton has tested positive for West Nile Virus.

Despite 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 residents of Washington County, Tiverton and Little Compton should continue to 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.

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.

To date, in Rhode Island, 12 mosquito pools in four communities have tested positive for EEE and three horses and several birds have died of the disease. Seven mosquito pools in seven communities have tested positive for West Nile Virus, three human cases of the disease have been reported, and DEM has tallied more than 600 West Nile-suspect birds from throughout the state.

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