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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
DEM SAYS FIRST MOSQUITOES TRAPPED TEST NEGATIVE FOR WNV AND EEE PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces that test results from the first mosquitoes trapped this season are negative for both West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. DEM staff collected the mosquitoes from 11 traps set statewide on June 5 and separated into 52 mosquito pools for testing by the RI Department of Health Laboratory. Test results are pending for one pool of mosquitoes trapped on June 5.DEM will normally report mosquito test results once a week on a routine basis, generally on, or by, Wednesday, with additional reports as necessary. Test results from mosquitoes trapped last week will be included in next week's announcement. Positive mosquito test 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. Residents can dispose of dead birds by double-bagging them and putting them in their household trash. There is no evidence that birds can transmit West Nile Virus to humans; mosquitoes that bite infected birds and then bite humans are the transmitters. However, as with any dead animal, avoid bare-handed contact of the carcass by using gloves or an inverted bag to place it in the double bag for disposal. Personal Protection Urged This year's mosquito response protocol is not substantially changed from that of the past four 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. It is hoped that, through personal protection measures, comprehensive larvicide treatment, and elimination of mosquito habitat in populated areas of the state, mosquito growth and human exposure to West Nile Virus and EEE can be mitigated. Personal protection is still the first line of defense against mosquito-borne disease. DEM and HEALTH officials urge all Rhode Islanders to avoid mosquito bites by using screens on windows and doors, covering up at dawn and dusk, and putting mosquito netting over playpens and baby carriages when they are outside. Also, use mosquito repellent, but with no more than 30 percent DEET. Do not use repellent on infants. Additionally, eliminate mosquito breeding grounds by removing anything in yards that holds standing water, such as old tires, buckets, junk and debris, and clean gutters so that they drain properly. 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 xxx one in Portsmouth and one in East Providence xxx 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. West Nile Virus is also a mosquito-transmitted, viral disease that causes encephalitis. 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. 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. Additional Information For online information about mosquito-borne diseases, go to DEM's website, www.state.dem.ri.gov, and click on "Public Health Updates", or go to the HEALTH website, www.health.ri.gov, and click on "E" (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) or "W" ((West Nile Virus)) under "Health Topics". -30- |
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