Mosquito Scare Forces Sports Reschedule

The Rhode Island Department of Health is urging towns and schools to practice "smart scheduling" of outdoor sports amidst the rising threat of mosquito-borne illnesses. Bristol-Warren Superintendent Melinda Thies announced Monday varsity soccer games have already been rescheduled.

The Department of Health is urging school districts to cancel or reschedule any sporting events scheduled after 6 p.m.

"We will be complying with that," Thies said. "We are rescheduling evening games to comply with the proclamation and just to ensure the students are protected."

Two soccer games slated for 6 p.m. at Mt. Hope High School today and Thursday have been rescheduled to 3:30 p.m., Thies said.

So far this year, five pools of mosquitoes have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) while another four have tested positive for West Nile Virus across the state. Just yesterday, DEM announced a pool of mosquitoes trapped near Schoolhouse Road in Warren tested positive for EEE.

Health officials are now encouraging towns and schools to avoid scheduling sports practices, games and activities around early morning or at dusk — when mosquitoes are most active. They urge participants to wear insect repellent (with no more than 30 percent DEET), long pants and long-sleeved shirts. This "smart scheduling" is recommended to be in effect until the first frost of the year, typically in mid-October.