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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 THAT TWO BIRDS TEST POSITIVE FOR MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASE PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces that, not unexpectedly, two birds have tested positive for mosquito-borne disease. They are the first birds to test positive in Rhode Island this season. A crow, collected from Barrington on August 12, has tested positive for West Nile Virus. A bluejay, collected from East Greenwich on August 17, has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis. The test results were received late Friday afternoon.Under the state's mosquito protocol, additional mosquito traps will be set in both communities, and residents are encouraged to increase personal protection, such as eliminating mosquito breeding grounds and avoiding mosquito bites. West Nile Virus is well established throughout the state and, indeed, throughout the country, and EEE is present in the environment. Therefore, throughout the mosquito season, residents statewide should protect themselves by eliminating mosquito breeding grounds and avoiding mosquito bites. Personal protection is the first line of defense against mosquitoes that can carry diseases such as West Nile Virus and EEE and is by far the most effective way of avoiding infection. DEM has received far fewer reports of dead birds this year than in previous years. Residents are encouraged to call DEM's dead bird surveillance hotline - 788-3698 - to report crows or bluejays that appear to have recently died and that show no signs of external injury. Although only a few samples of birds that meet these criteria will be retrieved for testing, DEM will map the locations of all birds reported in order to identify areas where additional mosquito trapping and testing might be needed, as dead crows and bluejays can serve as an early indicator of mosquito-borne disease. Mosquitoes are trapped every week statewide by DEM staff and tested at the RI Department of Health (HEALTH) laboratory. DEM will normally report mosquito test results once a week on a routine basis, with additional reports as necessary. Test results from last week's trapping and any routine pending results will be reported by DEM next Wednesday. Any new positive bird results will also be included in the weekly announcement. This year, to date in Rhode Island, EEE has been found in North Kingstown in two mosquito pools. No mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile Virus. One bird has tested positive for EEE and one has tested positive for West Nile Virus. For online information about mosquito-borne diseases, go to DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov, and click on "Public Health" under "Topics", or go to the HEALTH website, www.health.ri.gov, and click on "W" under "Health Topics". -30- |
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