RI Sees 2 More Residents Test Positive For West Nile Virus

RHODE ISLAND — Two more Rhode Island residents have recently tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV), the RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM) said Thursday.

State officials said both people are Providence County residents in their 70s. As of Thursday, four Rhode Islanders have tested positive for WNV, and one resident tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).

Additionally, the most recent mosquito samples tested by the Rhode Island State Health Laboratories confirmed one positive finding of EEE virus. The mosquito sample testing positive for EEE was collected in Westerly. These results are from 89 samples collected from 24 traps set statewide by DEM on Sept. 5 and 9.

State officials said all of Rhode Island is now at high risk for West Nile virus and urged residents to take precautions during this active mosquito season.

Due to the high risk level, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and DEM are urging schools and organizations that have not yet implemented “smart-scheduling” to consider rescheduling outdoor activities scheduled to occur during early morning or dusk hours to earlier in the afternoon or relocating them to an indoor venue. Although adult mosquitoes are not killed until a hard frost (defined as three consecutive hours below 32 degrees), mosquitoes become less active at temperatures below 58 degrees, and they become largely inactive when temperatures fall below 50 degrees.

Last month, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) conducted an aerial application of mosquito larvicide across 3,000 acres of Chapman Swamp in Westerly and Great Swamp in South Kingstown to reduce mosquito populations and related disease risk. As mosquito season continues, state officials said they will evaluate the risk level statewide and provide updates if more prevention measures are planned.

Common symptoms of West Nile Virus include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash. Although many people who are infected with the virus show no symptoms, symptoms last for some people for several days or several weeks.
The DEM encouraged Rhode Islanders to take preventive action to reduce mosquito exposure. Here are some tips to stay safe.

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 West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. 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.

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