Rhode Island Confirms 6th West Nile Finding Of 2021

PROVIDENCE, RI — Another finding of West Nile Virus has been confirmed in Rhode Island, the state Department of Environmental Management reported. The positive sample was from a pool of mosquitos collected in Glocester the last week of September.

This has been the sixth positive finding of the mosquito-borne illness in the state so far this year. To date, there has been one human case of the illness, and no confirmed findings of Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

The latest finding is "a reminder that Rhode Island residents should take extra precautions to avoid being bitten during the final few weeks of the mosquito season.," the DEM said. Residents are urged to take precautions against mosquito exposure until the first hard frost of the year, when the air and ground freeze below 32 degrees for three hours, or below 28 degrees for two hours.

West Nile is much more prevalent than EEE. It is now well-established in North America since its introduction to the region in 1999.

The DEM urged Rhode Islanders to take the following precautions to stay mosquito safe for the remainder of the season.

Protect yourself

• Put screens on windows and doors. Fix screens that are loose or have holes.
• At sunrise and sundown (when mosquitoes that carry EEE are most active), consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning. If you must be outside, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and use bug spray.
• Use EPA-approved bug spray with one of the following active ingredients: DEET (20-30% strength); picaridin, IR3535; and oil of lemon eucalyptus or paramenthane. Always read the label and follow all directions and precautions.
• Do not use bug spray with DEET on infants under two months of age. Children should be careful not to rub their eyes after bug spray has been applied on their skin. Wash children’s hands with soap and water to remove any bug spray when they return indoors.
• Put mosquito netting over playpens and baby carriages.

Remove mosquito breeding grounds

• Remove items around your house and yard that collect water. Just one cup of water can produce hundreds of mosquitoes; an unused tire containing water can produce thousands of mosquitoes.

• Clean your gutters and downspouts so that they can drain properly.
• Remove any water from unused swimming pools, wading pools, boats, planters, trash and recycling bins, tires, and anything else that collects water, and cover them.
• Remove or treat any shallow water that can accumulate on top of a pool cover. Larvicide treatments, such as Mosquito Dunks can be applied to kill immature mosquitoes. This environmentally friendly product is available at many hardware and garden stores and online.
• Clean and change water in birdbaths at least once a week.

Best practices for horse owners

Horses are particularly susceptible to WNV and EEE. Horse owners are advised to vaccinate their animals early in the season and practice the following:

• Remove or cover areas where standing water can collect.
• Avoid putting animals outside at dawn, dusk, or during the night when mosquitoes are most active.
• Insect-proof facilities where possible and use approved repellents frequently.
• Monitor animals for symptoms of fever and/or neurological signs (such as stumbling, moodiness, loss of appetite) and report all suspicious cases to a veterinarian immediately. If you are unsure if your horse is properly vaccinated, you should consult with your veterinarian.