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RI DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
West Nile Virus Bulletin
(Coventry, Narragansett, South Kingstown)
Wednesday - September 6, 2000 - 2:00 P.M.

This is an update on the state's West Nile Virus response plan. South Kingstown and Narragansett plan to ground spray a two-mile radius around Saugatucket Road in South Kingstown on Thursday evening September 7, beginning at 7 p.m. weather permitting. Coventry, as previously reported, plans to ground spray a two-mile radius around Westwood Estates beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 7, weather permitting. Previous plans for limited ground spraying this evening in South Kingstown and Narragansett were postponed because weather conditions expected this evening are unsatisfactory for spraying. The temperature is expected to be cool, which means that mosquito activity will be limited. Successful ground spraying depends on contact with flying mosquitoes.

Residents can call the following local numbers for information on spraying in their area:

Coventry - 821-6400

Narragansett - 782-0637

South Kingstown - 789-9331

Media contact at DEM is Stephanie Powell, 222-4700 ext. 4418, pager 482-2968. DEM will issue additional bulletins on an as needed basis to report on new information.

The RI Departments of Health and Environmental Management are responding in accordance with their joint Response Protocol for Mosquito-Borne Diseases (including Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus). This Protocol also governs state-local coordination on prevention, preparedness and response. The Protocol is posted on the DEM web page (see below). More details follow below.

Key phone numbers for obtaining or reporting information are as follows:

Human Health	HEALTH Family Health Line	1-800-942-7434
Mosquito Information	DEM Mosquito Information Line HEALTH Family Information Line DEM EEE & WNV Web Page	1-866-634-7500 1-800-942-7434
Dead Birds	DEM Bird Surveillance	788-3698
Coventry Spraying Map- indicates approximate planned coverage Narragansett/South Kingstown Spraying Map- indicates approximate planned coverage
Archive of prior updates

The above telephone lines are normally manned during normal business hours during the week. The DEM Mosquito Information line will be manned extended hours Tuesday through Thursday this week. In night or weekend emergency situations, HEALTH can be reached at 272-5952 and DEM can be reached at 1-401-222-3070.

Information can also be found on the HEALTH and DEM websites www.health.state.ri.us and/or www.dem.state.ri.us.

Status of Incidents: West Nile Virus has been found in two new communities - Coventry and South Kingstown. A crow collected at Westwood Estates Mobile Home Park in Coventry on August 27 tested positive for the virus at the University of Rhode Island's mosquito virus testing laboratory. The lab reported the results to DEM on Sunday evening. Confirmatory tests from the United States Department of Agriculture Laboratory in Ames, Iowa received by DEM Monday morning, September 5, confirmed West Nile Virus in a horse stabled in South Kingstown that was euthanized on August 28.

Status of Activities: DEM initiated its Mosquito-Borne Diseases Response Protocol, and immediately contacted the Governor, municipal officials from Coventry, South Kingstown, and Narragansett, state agencies, and area legislators. DEM met with chief municipal officials and public works officials from South Kingstown and Narragansett at 9 a.m. on Saturday and again at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, and with Coventry officials at 8:30 a.m. on Friday morning and again at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, where DEM handed out GIS-generated locus maps that identified streets within the two-mile ground spray radius recommended under the protocol. Media briefings were held after each meeting.

DEM will loan spray equipment to the communities. The equipment is equipped with sufficient amounts of the pesticide Sumithrin and safety equipment to adequately treat the response areas.

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.

For General Information 222-6800 • After Hours Emergencies 222-3070 • Disclaimer