Fourth EEE-Positive Mosquito Found In Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Departments of Environmental Management and Health announced Tuesday that a fourth mosquito has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis in the state. The mosquito was the second trapped in Westerly's Chapman Swamp to test positive for the disease this year.

At the same time, a mosquito trapped in Tiverton tested positive for West Nile Virus, the first finding of the disease in Rhode Island this year.

As of Tuesday, there have been four positive findings of EEE in mosquitoes trapped in Rhode Island: two in Central Falls and two in Westerly. Last week, two cases of the illness were confirmed, one in a Westerly horse and the other in a West Warwick resident, the first human case in Rhode Island since 2010.

Since then, the DEM has increased trapping and testing to five additional cities and towns across the state, bringing the total number of traps to 38 locations across 23 cities and towns. Over the weekend, the health department's laboratory worked to quickly test trapped mosquitoes.

In a typical year, the DEM traps mosquitoes from June until late September, placing traps based on environmental conditions. Generally, 25 to 30 traps are placed Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown, North Kingstown, Exeter, Warwick, Cranston, Johnston, Providence, Central Falls, Pawtucket, East Providence, Barrington, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton, Portsmouth and Newport. The new traps were placed in West Warwick, West Greenwich, Burrillville, North Smithfield and Cumberland.

The DEM and Department of Health are working to determine the best next steps, including aerial spraying. A spraying schedule will be released in advance, if officials decide to use this option. Larvicide — designed to kill larva before they can become adult mosquitoes — could be applied to Chapman Swamp as soon as Thursday.

To help reduce the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses, the Department of Health encouraged schools and sports teams to use "smart scheduling" to avoid outdoor activities during early morning and even hours, when mosquitoes are most active. +