DEM ANNOUNCES THAT THREE MORE POOLS OF MOSQUITOES TEST POSITIVE FOR EEE

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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 20, 2003
Contact:	Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402 Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM ANNOUNCES THAT THREE MORE POOLS OF MOSQUITOES TEST POSITIVE FOR EEE
Today's Frost Killed Big Portion of Mosquitoes But Rhode Islanders Should Still Take Care on Unusually Warm Days

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management has announced that three more pools (samples) of mosquitoes have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), bringing the total number of EEE-positive mosquito pools statewide to 16.

The three new EEE-positive isolations were from mosquitoes trapped in North Kingstown near Wickford, in Charleston within Burlingame State Park, and in Westerly near the tourist center on Route 1. All were trapped on October 14. DEM continues to set out mosquito traps statewide, although mosquito numbers continue to decline.

Although this morning's frost killed off a big portion of remaining mosquitoes, and the risk of being bitten is much reduced, Alan Gettman, Ph.D., DEM's Mosquito Abatement Coordinator, warns that on unusually warm days ahead there could be a noticeable amount of biting activity. On such days, particularly when in the woods or when temperatures are expected to remain above 50 degrees at dusk, DEM and the Health Department caution that residents and visitors statewide should take precautions against being bitten, since there are still infected mosquitoes in the environment.

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, 16 mosquito pools in five communities have tested positive for EEE and five horses and several birds have died of the disease. EEE, historically found in the southern and southeastern parts of the state, has also been found in other areas, and is now presumed likely in all areas of Rhode Island. 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. Also in Rhode Island, seven mosquito pools in seven communities have tested positive for West Nile Virus, five 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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