Town of Smithfield to Close Outdoor Athletic Facilities at 6:30 p.m. Due to EEE & West Nile Outbreak

Town of Smithfield to Close Outdoor Athletic Facilities at 6:30 p.m. Due to EEE & West Nile Outbreak

The Town of Smithfield is closing all outdoor athletic facilities at 6:30 p.m. or dusk for town youth recreation leagues due to the recent outbreak of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV).

"EEE and WNV are spread through the bites of infected mosquitos. Upon the advice of state health and environmental officials, the town is closing all outdoor athletic facilities for youth recreation leagues at 6:30 or dusk (should dusk come sooner). This closing is intended to avoid the time period when mosquitoes are most active” said the Town of Smithfield in their press release. 

The Town adds that it will “closely monitor conditions and advice from state environmental and health experts.”

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EEE in RI

As GoLocalProv reported, one Rhode Island resident passed away after contracting EEE.

It was Rhode Island’s first fatal human EEE case since 2007.

Two mosquito detections of EEE have occurred in Central Falls and two have occurred in Westerly.

A horse was also diagnosed with EEE in Westerly.

In addition, several EEE cases and positive mosquitoes have been detected in Connecticut and Massachusetts, some in areas that border Rhode Island. 

Protection

RI Health gives the following tips on people can protect themselves and animals from the virus:

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 to 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.