First human case of EEE in R.I. since 2010 confirmed

THE FIRST case of EEE in Rhode Island since 2010 has been confirmed in a resident in West Warwick, according to RIDOH.
THE FIRST case of EEE in Rhode Island since 2010 has been confirmed in a resident in West Warwick, according to RIDOH.

PROVIDENCE – The first human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Rhode Island was found in a person over the age of 50 in West Warwick, the R.I. Department of Health announced Friday.

The instance is the first case of EEE in Rhode Island since 2010, RIDOH said. Testing is conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Massachusetts has found four confirmed human cases of EEE this year. The risk level Bristol County, Mass., ranges from moderate to critical. RIDOH said that this summer has seen a higher than average risk for mosquito-borne illness.

“In Rhode Island, we have confirmed EEE in both a horse and a human, which indicates that there is a high risk for transmission of disease to humans through mosquito bites,” said Ana Novais, Deputy Director of RIDOH. “EEE is a rare, but very serious disease. We strongly recommend that people everywhere in Rhode Island protect themselves and their families by using insect repellent, minimizing outdoor exposure at dusk and dawn, and wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors at those times.  People must also reduce opportunities for mosquitoes to breed by eliminating standing water around their homes.”

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The department has posted a mosquito disease prevention guide online.

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