The above telephone lines are normally manned during normal business hours during the week.

The DEM Mosquito Information line will temporarily be manned until 8 p.m. on weekdays. In night or weekend emergency situations, HEALTH can be reached at 272-5952 and DEM can be reached at 1-401-222-3070.

Status of Incident: The Department of Environmental Management Tuesday recommended limited ground spraying in a small area of East Providence eastward of Wampanoag Trail based on the location of a dead crow in Seekonk, MA that was found to be infected with West Nile Virus.The dead crow was found on Fieldwood Avenue in Seekonk on August 24 and tested at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health in Boston. Results were received by Seekonk officials Monday evening, and reviewed by DEM on Tuesday morning in consultation with Massachusetts authorities.

Status of Activities: In light of the finding, and in accordance with Rhode Island's West Nile Virus Action Plan, public education emphasizing personal protection will be intensified, DEM will adjust its mosquito surveillance locations by adding additional traps in the area, and DEM has recommended ground spraying of populated areas in East Providence east of Wampanoag Trail.

Spraying will be done by trained municipal employees from East Providence using truck-mounted ultra low volume sprayers provided by DEM. DEM and East Providence officials met Wednesday at 11 a.m. in East Providence City Hall to go over plans, and a press briefing was held at noon at city hall. No spraying will occur near open water or field crops. The spraying will be preceded by a comprehensive public information effort, as time allows.

Sumithrin is a pyrethroid-based adulticide effective for controlling mosquitoes. The active ingredient in Sumithrin is a man-made pesticide, similar to natural groups of pesticides called pyrethrin, which come from plants such as the common chrysanthemum. These pesticides are also used in pet shampoos, flea sprays and household insect sprays. Spraying will be at dosage levels far below human health threshholds, per EPA guidelines.

Spraying is part of a comprehensive program of mosquito control and disease prevention. Spraying will be conducted in accordance with US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state protocol guidelines. Health risks associated with the use of Sumithrin in this manner are negligible. As with any pesticide, common sense measures are recommended to reduce exposure.

The Department of Health recommends:

Avoid direct exposure to pesticides;

Keep all family members and pets inside during spraying;

Stay inside at least 10 minutes after spraying - longer if you can;

If exposed, wash yourself off;

Consider taking additional steps to further reduce exposure during spraying;

Close windows, shut off air conditioners;

Bring toys, clothes and small equipment inside;

Cover outdoor tables and big equipment;

Close car windows, and turn air to re-circulate mode;

Wash any exposed fruits and vegetables, such as those from your garden, before storing, cooking or eating.

In order to minimize the potential for accidental exposure, city officials have been advised to have the spray truck preceded with a warning vehicle of some sort.

Anyone experiencing adverse reactions to pesticides should call their doctor or the Regional Center for Poison Control at 1-800-682-9211. Persons with asthma or other respiratory problems should stay indoors during spraying.