West Warwick Man Dies Of EEE

WEST WARWICK, RI — A West Warwick man died Sunday after contracting Eastern equine encephalitis, the Rhode Island Department of Health said Monday. It was the first deadly case of the mosquito-borne illness in the state since 2007. It was also the first human EEE case in the state since 2010.

The man was in his 50s. The department reported the illness Aug. 30. At the time, the man was considered to be in "critical condition." The man's identity has not been released.

Aerial spraying of pesticides is being conducted in four areas that the Departments of Health and Environmental Management have determined to be at "critical risk" for EEE, which is spread by mosquitoes. On Sunday night, two of these areas were sprayed, with the remaining two set to be completed Monday night.

So far, there have been four positive findings of EEE in mosquitoes trapped in Rhode Island this year: two in Westerly and two in Central Falls. A Westerly horse was also diagnosed with the illness. To decrease risk, schools and sports teams are asked to practice "smart scheduling," avoiding outdoor activities during early morning and evening hours.