3 Mosquitos Samples In RI Test Positive For West Nile Virus

CRANSTON, RI — Three mosquito samples collected in Rhode Island have tested positive for West Nile Virus, the Department of Environmental Management said Thursday.

The samples were collected on Aug. 5. Two of the samples were from East Providence, while the other was from Warren. State officials said the other 405 mosquito samples tested were all negative for West Nile Virus.

Rhode Island has seen four mosquito samples test positive for West Nile Virus this summer. The virus is much more prevalent than EEE, so state officials said this finding is not unexpected. Fifty-six pools of mosquitoes trapped in Connecticut and 46 mosquito pools in Massachusetts have tested positive for the virus, as of Thursday.

State officials said West Nile Virus will become more prevalent in Rhode Island, as the season progresses. Residents are advised to reduce their exposure to mosquitoes until the first hard frost.

To prevent the risk of diseases mosquitos carry, state health officials recommend residents take the following precautions:

• 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.
• Get rid of mosquito breeding grounds
• Get rid of anything around your house and yard that collects 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 on-line.
• Change the water in birdbaths at least once a week and rinse out birdbaths once a week.

Horses are also 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.