DEM, HEALTH, SAY RHODE ISLANDERS NOW AT HIGHER THAN AVERAGE RISK 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:	September 3, 2004
Contact:	Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402 Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM, HEALTH, SAY RHODE ISLANDERS NOW AT HIGHER THAN AVERAGE RISK FOR EEE
As Labor Day Weekend Begins, Officials Urge Residents to Take Extra Care Against Mosquito Bites

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management and the Department of Health (HEALTH) caution all Rhode Islanders at the start of the Labor Day weekend that they should take extra care to protect themselves against mosquito bites.

"The increasing numbers of mosquito pools, or samples, testing positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Southern New England indicates that we are now clearly at a higher than normal risk for EEE," said Alan Gettman, Ph.D, DEM's Mosquito Abatement Coordinator. "The evidence is there."

Yesterday's report of the death of a teenager from Massachusetts, the second death in that state from EEE this year, and today's report of eight EEE-positive mosquito pools from a number of different mosquito species in Stonington and North Stonington, Connecticut add to the concern. To date, four mosquito pools in Rhode Island have tested positive for EEE, as have 18 mosquito pools in southeastern Massachusetts and 13 in eastern Connecticut.

"Those findings, coupled with the heavy rains during the first half of August that hatched eggs, producing a new crop of mosquitoes that we are experiencing now, increases the possibility of disease transmission," Gettman said.

Because of the heightened health risk, all Rhode Islanders should take extra care to protect themselves, particularly when mosquito biting activity is high. Biting activity depends on several conditions. It generally is greatest from dusk to dawn. 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.

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. People should routinely use mosquito repellent and cover up when mosquito biting activity is greatest. They should place mosquito netting over playpens and carriages outside, and be sure that screens are in good repair. Mosquito repellent should contain no more than 30 percent DEET, and it should not be used on infants.

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