It’s
in Westerly – so start taking precautions
DEM
News Release
PROVIDENCE
- The Department of Environmental Management announces that a sample of
mosquitoes collected on July 9 in Chapman Swamp in Westerly has tested positive
for West Nile Virus (WNV).
Samples
are tested weekly at the RI Health Department laboratory. The sample, or pool,
of 35 mosquitoes is a species that can bite both birds and humans.
West
Nile Virus is increasingly being detected in mosquito samples trapped at
multiple locations in Boston, Western Connecticut, and Long Island.
While
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) has not yet been isolated in Rhode Island
this season, it was recently isolated in mosquitoes trapped in Lakeville,
Carver, Rehoboth and Easton, Massachusetts. Both diseases are more prevalent in
late summer and early fall.
Throughout the mosquito season, residents are encouraged to protect themselves by eliminating mosquito breeding grounds and avoiding mosquito bites.
Throughout the mosquito season, residents are encouraged to protect themselves by eliminating mosquito breeding grounds and avoiding mosquito bites.
Personal
protection is the first line of defense against mosquitoes that can carry
diseases such as West Nile Virus and EEE and is by far the most effective way
of avoiding infection.
Eliminate mosquito breeding grounds from yards by removing anything that holds standing water, such as old tires, buckets, junk and debris, clean gutters so that they drain correctly, and maintain swimming pools properly.
Eliminate mosquito breeding grounds from yards by removing anything that holds standing water, such as old tires, buckets, junk and debris, clean gutters so that they drain correctly, and maintain swimming pools properly.
Mosquitoes
breed in standing water. Just one cup of standing water can produce hundreds of
mosquitoes. Avoid mosquito bites by using screens on windows and doors,
covering up at dawn and dusk, and putting mosquito netting over playpens and
baby carriages when they are outside.
Also,
use mosquito repellent, but with no more than 30 percent DEET. Do not use
repellent on infants.
Mosquitoes are trapped every week statewide by DEM staff and tested at the RI Department of Health (HEALTH) laboratory. DEM will normally report mosquito test results once a week on a routine basis, with additional reports as necessary.
Mosquitoes are trapped every week statewide by DEM staff and tested at the RI Department of Health (HEALTH) laboratory. DEM will normally report mosquito test results once a week on a routine basis, with additional reports as necessary.
Test
results from mosquitoes trapped this week will be included in next week's
announcement. Positive mosquito test results will generally trigger additional
trapping to assess risk.
For online information about mosquito-borne diseases, go to DEM's website, www.state.dem.ri.gov, and click on "Public Health Updates", or go to the HEALTH website, www.health.ri.gov, and click on "E" (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) or "W" (West Nile Virus) under "Health Topics".
For online information about mosquito-borne diseases, go to DEM's website, www.state.dem.ri.gov, and click on "Public Health Updates", or go to the HEALTH website, www.health.ri.gov, and click on "E" (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) or "W" (West Nile Virus) under "Health Topics".