West Nile virus detected in North Kingstown; state officials on alert for mosquito-borne diseases

A mosquito looks to extract its blood meal from the arm of its host. Mosquitoes can spread Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus to human beings through their bite. (Robert S. Craig/CDC photo)

Washington County remains at significant risk for mosquito-borne diseases, with a new mosquito sample in North Kingstown testing positive for West Nile virus, state officials announced Friday.

The latest results, reflecting traps set on Aug. 13 and Aug. 19 across the state, comes amid increasing concern over West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis across southern New England, including in Rhode Island.

Earlier this month, state officials with the Rhode Island Department of Health and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management put Washington County residents on notice after reporting more than a dozen mosquito samples with EEE and two with West Nile.

So far this season, Rhode Island has detected 17 mosquito samples with EEE and five with West Nile, along with one “probable case” of West Nile in a state resident.

Neighboring Massachusetts and Connecticut have also seen disease prevalence rise, including several cases of West Nile and EEE in residents. In New Hampshire, a 41-year-old man died after contracting EEE, state health officials reported this week .

In Rhode Island, DEM organized helicopters to drop mosquito larvicide across 3,000 acres of swamp in Westerly and South Kingstown this week to help kill mosquito populations. State officials have also recommended schools and organizations limit outdoor activities to avoid peak mosquito activity hours in the early morning and at dusk.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis is extremely rare in humans, but can be serious and deadly, killing 30% of those infected and leaving many survivors with ongoing neurological problems, including abdominal pain, rash, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle aches, loss of appetite, and more. West Nile virus is more common but only 1 in 5 people infected notice serious symptoms like a fever.

To prevent the chance of disease, residents are encouraged to wear protective clothing and bug spray. Property owners are also encouraged to remove standing water, which is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, from their land.

Additional prevention tips and information about EEE is available at health.ri.gov/mosquito . Mosquitoes are trapped weekly by DEM and tested at the State Health Laboratories. DEM issues advisories on test results from June through September, with additional reports as necessary. Typically, positive test results trigger additional trapping to assess risk.

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