The above telephone lines are normally manned during normal business hours during the week. The DEM Mosquito Information line will be manned on Wednesday, September 20, until 8 p.m. 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: West Nile Virus has been found for the second time in Westerly. A crow collected from Wilcox Park in downtown Westerly on September 10 tested positive for the virus at the University of Rhode Island Mosquito Virus Testing laboratory. The lab reported the results to DEM at 5:30 p.m. on Monday evening.

Status of Activities: DEM initiated its Mosquito-Borne Diseases Response Protocol, and contacted the Governor, municipal officials from Westerly, state agencies, and area legislators Monday evening. DEM also notified Connecticut state officials of the positive finding, since the bird's location was close to the Stonington, CT town line. DEM will provide ultra-low volume spray equipment to the Town of Westerly. The three spray rigs will be picked up from DEM's Pawtuxet Warehouse Depot on Warwick Avenue in Cranston Tuesday afternoon. The sprayers, already calibrated and ready to go, are equipped with sufficient amounts of the pesticide Sumithrin and safety equipment to adequately treat the response area.

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.

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, Westerly 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.