It was found in Cranston but that's just for starters
The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announced that a mosquito sample collected July 29 in Cranston has tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) by RIDOH State Health Laboratories.
This is the first WNV finding of the summer in Rhode Island and
was the only confirmed WNV-positive finding from 70 mosquito samples collected
from 10 traps July 29. To date, no mosquito samples have tested positive for
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in the state.
WNV is much more prevalent than EEE and this finding is not
unexpected, as WNV has become established in North America following its introduction
in 1999. To date this summer, 37 pools of mosquitoes trapped in Connecticut and
38 mosquito pools in Massachusetts have tested positive for WNV.
The positive findings in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and now
Rhode Island indicate that WNV has established seasonal activity in our area.
WNV will become more prevalent as the season progresses, so DEM and RIDOH
advise residents to reduce their exposure to mosquitoes until the first hard
frost. There have been no findings of EEE in mosquito pools in Connecticut or
Massachusetts.
Personal protection is the first line of defense against
mosquitoes that may carry WNV, EEE, or other diseases – and the most effective
way to avoid infection. With WNV established in the state, residents are
reminded to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds and prevent being bitten,
whenever possible. The following precautions are advised.
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.
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.
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.
Visit health.ri.gov/mosquito for additional mosquito prevention
tips, videos, and local data. DEM and RIDOH also remind Rhode Islanders to take
precautions to avoid mosquito bites when traveling to Zika-affected countries.
Pregnant women and women who are considering becoming pregnant should not
travel to countries with active transmission of Zika.
Mosquitoes are trapped weekly by DEM and tested at the RIDOH
State Health Laboratories. DEM issues advisories on test results from July through
September, with additional reports as necessary. Test results are pending for
202 mosquito pools collected from 48 traps August 2 to August 5 and will be
included in future announcements. Typically, positive test results trigger
additional trapping to assess risk.
For information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit
www.dem.ri.gov. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM or on
Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) for timely updates.
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