PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) announce that test results from one mosquito pool, or sample, from a trap set on September 9 in Exeter has been confirmed positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).
It is the fourth time this year that EEE has been positively identified in Rhode Island, although it is presumed likely to be present in other areas of the state. The positive EEE result was from a pool of mosquitoes trapped in the eastern area of Exeter and was of the Culiseta species that feeds exclusively on birds.
Last week DEM and HEALTH announced that two pools of mosquitoes trapped during the week of September 3 were confirmed positive for EEE, and that one pool was confirmed positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). Test results from the remaining 102 mosquito pools from 33 traps set statewide during the week of September 3 are negative for both WNV and EEE.
As a result, DEM will be setting extra mosquito for increased assessment.
These findings are not unexpected at this time of the year. Test results on the remaining 126 mosquito pools from 33 traps set statewide during the week of September 9 are pending at the RI Department of Health (HEALTH) laboratory.
This year, to date in Rhode Island, four pools of mosquitoes have tested positive for WNV and four pools of mosquitoes has tested positive for EEE. There have been no reported 2013 cases of WNV or EEE in humans in Rhode Island at this time. Human cases of WNV and EEE have been reported in nearby states. There have been three confirmed cases of WNV in Massachusetts, and two deaths from WNV in New Jersey. Vermont has had one death from EEE.
WNV is most commonly spread by infected mosquitoes and can cause febrile illness, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord). Anyone living in an area where WNV is present in mosquitoes can get infected. EEE is one of the most severe mosquito-transmitted diseases in the United States with approximately 33% mortality and significant brain damage in most survivors. Infants and the elderly are at greatest risk for serious complications. There is no specific treatment for EEE; care is based on symptoms.
Throughout the mosquito season, which typically lasts through the first hard frost, 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 WNV and EEE and is by far the most effective way of avoiding infection.
To help protect themselves and their families from mosquito-borne illness, DEM and Health strongly recommend that Rhode Islanders should:
- Dress for protection. Wear long pants, long-sleeve shirts and socks during outdoor evening and early morning activities.
- Use bug spray. Use mosquito repellent with no more than 30 percent DEET during outdoor activities, particularly at dawn, dusk, and evening hours, when mosquitoes are most active. Do not use repellent on infants. Instead, put mosquito netting over playpens and baby carriages.
- Time activities for maximum protection. If possible, minimize outdoor activities between dusk and dawn.
- Evaluate the environment. Be sure all open windows are screened, repair any holes in screens, and fix loose screens. Residents and facility groundskeepers should immediately look for and empty standing water following heavy rain, and ensure rain gutters are clear of debris that might trap water. Remove any standing water around yards and houses by emptying planters, wading pools, trash and recycling bins, and other places where water might accumulate to reduce mosquito breeding. Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Just one cup of standing water can produce hundreds of mosquitoes.
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".
