PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A person in their 60s from Providence County has contracted West Nile Virus (WNV), marking the first human case of the virus in Rhode Island this year.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) were notified of the positive case on Friday.

In the most recent round of mosquito samples , Rhode Island State Health Laboratories confirmed two positive findings of the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus and two positive findings of WNV.

The mosquito samples that tested positive for EEE were collected in South Kingstown and Westerly. The samples that tested positive for WNV were collected in Central Falls and Westerly.

The DEM says a total of 141 samples were collected from 28 traps set statewide on Aug. 1 and Aug. 5.

Given the positive results in Washington County, the DEM says there is a significant risk in the area and an elevated risk level in Rhode Island.

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Locations are not exact and are meant to illustrate findings by community. Source: RI DEM/RI DOH, MA DPH

So far this season, there have been 15 EEE findings and three WNV findings in Rhode Island. In Massachusetts, there have been 205 WNV findings and 40 EEE findings, with two cases of WNV in humans and one case of EEE in an animal. Connecticut has announced 172 WNV findings and 24 EEE findings.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , WNV is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the United States. There are no vaccines or medicines to treat the virus in people.

Most people who develop WNV don’t feel sick, but one in five who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. The virus can be deadly in some cases.

Health officials are urging people to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites.

You can protect yourself by putting screens on windows and making sure there is no standing water on your property. Health officials also recommend using an EPA-approved bug spray and staying indoors from dusk until dawn during peak biting times.

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