PROVIDENCE – Early last week, the Rhode Island Department of Health received confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the first human case of West Nile virus in Rhode Island in 2016.
The DOH reported that a 49-year-old Pawtucket resident was diagnosed on Aug. 12 with meningoencephalitis caused by West Nile virus and admitted to Rhode Island Hospital that same day. The patient left the hospital on Aug. 23 after recovering; initial test results had to be confirmed by additional testing from the CDC.
“Although we continue to hear about Zika virus in Florida, Rhode Islanders should be aware of other mosquito-borne illnesses as well, such as West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis,” said DOH Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, in a statement. “Anyone who spends time outside should protect themselves from mosquito bites and prevent mosquitoes from breeding.”
The DOH recommends taking these steps:
Protect yourself
Put screens on windows and doors; fix screens that are loose or have holes.
At sunrise and sundown (when virus-infected mosquitoes are most active), minimize outside activities. When outside, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and use bug spray.
Use EPA-approved bug spray with one of the following active ingredients: DEET (20-30 percent strength), picaridin, IR3535, and oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-methane-diol. Follow all labeling directions and precautions.
Do not use bug spray with DEET on infants under two months of age. Children should be careful not to rub their eyes after bug spray has been applied on their skin. Wash children’s hands with soap and water to remove bug spray when they return indoors.
Put mosquito netting over playpens and baby carriages.
Eliminate mosquito breeding grounds
Empty out and cover everything around your home and yard that collects water, such as wading pools, planters, trash and recycling bins and discarded tires. Even one cup of water can produce hundreds of mosquitoes.
Clean your gutters and down spouts so they drain properly.
Change the water in birdbaths at least two times a week and rinse out birdbaths once a week.
Visit www.health.ri.gov/disease/carriers/mosquitoes/ for additional prevention tips and for Rhode Island-specific data.
