DEM ANNOUNCES THAT SOUTH KINGSTOWN MOSQUITO SAMPLE TESTS POSITIVE FOR EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS

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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 9, 2004
Contact:	Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402 Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM ANNOUNCES THAT SOUTH KINGSTOWN MOSQUITO SAMPLE TESTS POSITIVE FOR EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS
State Remains at Higher Than Normal Risk for EEE; Officials Urge All Rhode Islanders to Protect Themselves Against Mosquito Bites

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces that a mosquito pool, or sample, from South Kingstown has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). It is the second EEE-positive mosquito pool found in South Kingstown this season.

The latest EEE-positive finding came from a pool of 12 Culiseta species mosquitoes, which bite birds but not humans. The mosquitoes were trapped on August 30 by DEM staff in the Glen Rock area of South Kingstown near the Richmond and Exeter town lines, and tested at the RI Department of Health (HEALTH) laboratory.

In response to the positive test result, DEM will continue additional surveillance in the area, set extra mosquito traps, and confer with local officials.

Alan Gettman, Ph.D., DEM's Mosquito Abatement Coordinator issues a reminder that 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."

Last week's report of the death of a teenager from Massachusetts, the second death in that state from EEE this year, as well as the recent 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, five mosquito pools in Rhode Island have tested positive for EEE, as have 25 mosquito pools in southeastern Massachusetts and 15 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.

Because of the heightened health risk, DEM and HEALTH caution that 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.

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".

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.

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