NEW: 4th Positive Finding of EEE & 1st West Nile Virus Confirmed in RI
GoLocalProv News Team
NEW: 4th Positive Finding of EEE & 1st West Nile Virus Confirmed in RI
The agencies also confirmed that mosquitoes trapped in Tiverton tested positive for West Nile Virus.
This comes a few days after the first human case of EEE was confirmed in West Warwick on Friday, as GoLocalProv reported.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThere have now been four EEE detections and one West Nile Virus detection in Rhode Island to date.
RI DEM Taking Extra Measure
Since the last round of trapping on August 26, DEM has added 10 new traps in five new communities and now is trapping at 38 locations in 23 municipalities.
RIDOH’s State Health Laboratories worked over this past weekend to test the mosquitoes and expedite testing results.
RIEMA continues to coordinate communications between state government and the state’s 39 cities and towns.
According to RI Health, aerial spraying could begin as early as Thursday in Chapman Swamp in Westerly, with other limited priority areas still being identified.
Protection
RI Health gives the following tips on how people can protect themselves and animals:
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 two times 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.
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