WPRO Newsroom
The season’s first mosquito test results have come back clean.
The Department of Environmental Management said of the 99 mosquito pools collected from 20 traps statewide, 67 pools have been confirmed negative for both West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
Results from the remaining 32 pools are pending.
Last year, six pools of mosquitoes tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis and five pools tested positive for West Nile Virus.
EEE is less common that West Nile, but has a higher fatality rate. The EEE virus affects the brain with symptoms like high fever, headache, stiff neck and decreased consciousness. Up to 50 percent of cases may result in fatality. Individuals with symptoms suggestive of EEE should contact their physician immediately.
West Nile Virus is also a mosquito-transmitted, viral disease that causes encephalitis. Mortality rates are much lower and most people bitten by West Nile-positive mosquitoes do not get sick. Symptoms begin 3-15 days after the bite and may include fever, headache, nausea, rash, stiff neck, muscle weakness, and disorientation. Of cases with serious symptoms, up to 15 percent may result in fatality.
The DEM and Department of Health caution Rhode Islanders to protect themselves from exposure to West Nile Virus and EEE by avoiding mosquito bites and eliminating mosquito breeding grounds. Residents should get rid of anything in their yards that holds standing water and to make sure their gutters are clean so that they drain properly. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so stagnant pools will attract the pesky insect. The DEM says just one cup of standing water can produce hundreds of mosquitoes.
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