DEM ANNOUNCES THAT EEE HAS BEEN FOUND IN GLOCESTER AND LINCOLN

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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 10, 2003
Contact:	Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402 Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM ANNOUNCES THAT EEE HAS BEEN FOUND IN GLOCESTER AND LINCOLN
Special Cautions Expanded to North Central and Northwestern Rhode Island, but all Rhode Islanders Should Continue to Avoid Mosquito Bites

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management has announced that Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) has been found in the southeastern area of Glocester and in the Limerock area of Lincoln. It is the first time that EEE has been positively identified in those areas of Rhode Island, although mosquito borne disease, particularly West Nile Virus, is prevalent statewide. The finding suggests that EEE, historically found in the southern and southeastern parts of the state, is now presumed likely in all areas of Rhode Island.

The Lincoln EEE isolation is in a horse from a private stable that became ill on October 1. Testing by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa confirmed that the horse has both EEE and West Nile Virus, a rare occurrence. The horse is now recovering.

The EEE isolation in Glocester was found in an emu that died on September 22. Confirmatory test results were received by DEM late yesterday from the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. The emu was probably infected during the week previous to its death. It was housed at Elwood Orchard, a pick-your own apple orchard open to the public on Snake Hill Road near Route 116 just west of Greenville; however, the possibility of infected mosquitoes extends throughout the area.

"We commend Al Feroli, owner of Elwood Orchard, for what he is doing to educate and protect his customers," said Malcolm Grant, Associate Director for Natural Resources for DEM. "On his own Mr. Feroli is posting our signs as well as his own, to let his customers know EEE has been found in the area. He is also making mosquito repellant available to his customers at his expense, and is closing down at 5 p.m., when high-risk hours for mosquito biting activity occur. He is doing what we would hope every business owner would do in the same circumstances."

DEM and the Health Department are cautioning that residents and visitors to outdoor events, festivals and attractions across Rhode Island should step up personal protection from mosquito bites and restrict or curtail outdoor activities during those increasingly infrequent conditions when biting activity is high. These are typically around dawn and dusk at temperatures above 50 degrees.

Although the latest isolations of mosquito-borne disease were found in Glocester and Lincoln, DEM and the Health Department urge that all Rhode Islanders continue to take precautions against mosquito bites until the first hard frost.

Mosquito numbers are clearly down, as is mosquito-biting activity. However, there are still infected mosquitoes in the environment and biting activity will increase on warm days, such as those predicted for this Columbus holiday weekend.

"Fortunately we are almost at the end of the mosquito season," Grant said. "However, DEM and Health officials are suggesting that public officials across the state monitor weather conditions and consider, on those few occasions when temperatures are expected to remain above 50 degrees at dusk, that outdoor public assemblies be rescheduled due to higher mosquito biting activity on those occasions."

This year has proven to be a higher than average risk year for EEE in Rhode Island and neighboring states. There have been a number of isolations of EEE in Connecticut this year, including many along the Rhode Island border, as well as in Massachusetts.

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.

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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