No New West Nile In RI, First EEE Of 2021 Found In New England

NARRAGANSETT, RI — The Ocean State remained free from mosquito-borne illnesses for another week, but residents are encouraged to remain vigilant after the region saw its first case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis of 2021.

New England's first EEE finding of the season was found in Voluntown, Connecticut, which borders Rhode Island. The virus was found in mosquitos recently trapped in Pachaug State Forest.

So far this year, there have been five findings of West Nile Virus in mosquitos trapped in Rhode Island, and no EEE. No new findings were identified in the pool of mosquitos trapped from Sept. 9 to 20, DEM said, and the test results from Sept. 21 to 30 are pending.

There are only a few weeks left in peak mosquito season, which ends with the first hard frost of the year.

The Department of Environmental Management encouraged Rhode Islanders to stay safe and reduce mosquito exposure by taking the following precautions.

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.