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 Mosquito Response Protocol DOH's WNV Page DOH's EEE Page |
News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
STATE GEARS UP FOR MOSQUITO SEASON, REMINDS RESIDENTS TO ELIMINATE MOSQUITO BREEDING GROUNDS AROUND THEIR HOMES PROVIDENCE - As mosquito season approaches, and with West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) so firmly established throughout the state, the Department of Environmental Management and the Department of Health (HEALTH) are reminding Rhode Islanders that personal protection is the first line of defense against mosquito-borne diseases.Residents should, as part of their normal seasonal routine, protect themselves from exposure to West Nile Virus and EEE by avoiding mosquito bites and eliminating mosquito breeding grounds. At this time of year, they are urged to get rid of anything in their yards that holds standing water, such as old tires, buckets, junk, and debris, and to make sure their gutters are clean so that they drain properly. Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Just one cup of standing water can produce thousands of mosquitoes. Personal protection and larviciding are cornerstones of the state's mosquito response protocol, which is not substantially changed from that of the past five years. Aerial or ground spraying will be recommended only when a team of mosquito-control experts determines that the public is at substantial risk of contact by infected mosquitoes. DEM will distribute the larvicide Altosid to municipalities for treating all public area catch basins and will hold two mosquito control training sessions this month at East Farm at the University of Rhode Island for municipal and state workers who will be applying it. As in past years, DEM will trap mosquitoes on a weekly basis throughout the state beginning at the end of May. The mosquitoes will be tested at the HEALTH laboratory, and DEM will provide, at minimum, weekly updates on test results to the media, with additional reports as necessary. Positive results will generally trigger additional trapping to assess risk. WNV/EEE Birdline De-Activated Since West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis are both firmly established throughout the state, it will not be necessary to test birds for those viruses as an "early warning." Therefore, DEM has de-activated its WNV/EEE birdline. Because horses are susceptible to West Nile Virus and EEE, Rhode Island horse owners should vaccinate their horses early in the season and take measures to control and prevent mosquito exposure. Those controls should include: removing or covering all areas where standing water can collect; applying mosquito larvicide in appropriate locations; and avoiding turning animals outside at dawn, dusk and during the night when mosquitoes are most active. Horse owners should insect-proof facilities where possible; use approved repellants frequently; monitor animals for symptoms of fever, incoordination, stumbling and neurological signs; and report all suspicious cases to a veterinarian immediately. 2005 Rhode Island Roundup Last year, in Rhode Island, one Providence resident tested positive for West Nile Virus, one mosquito sample from Providence, and two birds — one in Portsmouth and one in East Providence — tested positive for the disease. One horse, stabled in Lincoln Woods State Park and euthanized in August, tested positive for EEE, as did a 19-year-old emu from Roger Williams Park in Providence that was euthanized early in October. No mosquitoes in Rhode Island tested positive for EEE. The Viruses EEE, a cyclical virus, while not nearly as common as West Nile Virus, has a higher fatality rate. It is a viral disease contracted through the bite of an infected mosquito. In most years, the virus is limited to native bird populations and bird-biting mosquitoes, but occasionally the virus can be transmitted to humans and domestic animals. EEE virus affects the brain with symptoms that appear 5 to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Symptoms may include high fever, headache, stiff neck and decreased consciousness. Up to 50 percent of cases may result in fatality. Individuals with symptoms suggestive of EEE should contact their physician immediately. West Nile Virus is also a mosquito-transmitted, viral disease that causes encephalitis. However, mortality rates are much lower than those of EEE. Most people bitten by WNV-infected mosquitoes do not get sick. However, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are more prone to infections. Symptoms begin 3-15 days after the bite from an infected mosquito. Symptoms may include fever, headache, nausea, rash, stiff neck, muscle weakness, and disorientation. Of cases with serious symptoms, up to 15 percent may result in fatality. West Nile Virus made its first appearance in the Western hemisphere, in the New York City area in 1999, and has since spread throughout the country. In 2005, West Nile Virus was detected in 48 states, with 42 states reporting a total of 2,949 human cases of the disease and 116 deaths. -30- |
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