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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 THREE EEE ISOLATIONS, INCLUDING THAT OF A EUTHANIZED TIVERTON HORSE PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces that it received confirmation this afternoon of three positive Eastern Equine Encephalitis test results, including that of a Tiverton horse euthanized on Tuesday.The four-year-old horse became ill on Monday with classic encephalitis symptoms, and was euthanized at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts. EEE testing was performed by the Massachusetts Department of Health. The horse was stabled in a backyard farm in the Crandall Road area of Tiverton. It was not vaccinated against the disease. A bluejay collected in north-central Scituate on September 24 and a pool of mosquitoes trapped in Charlestown near the intersection of Routes 1 and 2 on September 22 have also tested positive for EEE. The Culiseta species mosquitoes, which bite birds but not humans, were from a trap that had been set by DEM in response to a previously reported EEE-positive bluejay collected at the Charlestown location. DEM is setting additional mosquito traps in the three affected areas. Alan Gettman, Ph.D., DEM's Mosquito Abatement Coordinator reminds Rhode Islanders that although biting activity has decreased due to the cooler weather, there are still infected mosquitoes in the environment. DEM and the RI Department of Health (HEALTH) caution that all Rhode Islanders should take extra care to protect themselves, particularly when mosquito-biting activity is high. Biting activity will increase on warm days. 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. 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. This year, to date in Rhode Island, EEE has been found in two mosquito pools in South Kingstown, two mosquito pools in North Kingstown, one in East Greenwich, and one in Charlestown. Three birds, all bluejays, have tested positive for EEE, and five birds have tested positive for West Nile Virus. Mosquitoes are trapped every week statewide by DEM staff and tested at the 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. 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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