DEM says mosquito season is a wrap

But URI’s TickEncounter center warns that ticks are a year-round threat

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces that test results from 52 mosquito pools, or samples, from 11 traps set statewide on October 7 are confirmed negative for both West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). 

One mosquito pool trapped on October 7 in northern Tiverton was confirmed positive for Highlands J Virus, a bird disease that doesn't affect humans.

Also, test results from 53 mosquito pools from 19 traps set statewide on September 30 have all been confirmed negative for WNV and EEE.

Due to negligible numbers of mosquitoes being collected, no traps have been set since the October 7 trap week, and no results are pending; therefore, this is the last weekly status update of the season.

While mosquito numbers naturally dwindle and do not reproduce at this time of year, we have yet to sustain a hard frost, which eliminates the risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases. Therefore, residents may notice an occasional mosquito, particularly on warmer days and nights.

This year in Rhode Island, four isolations of EEE were found in communities across the southern part of the state including Westerly, South Kingstown, Exeter and Tiverton. Test results also confirmed seven findings of WNV in six Rhode Island communities including Providence (two positives), Charlestown, South Kingstown, Barrington, East Providence and North Kingstown.

Mosquitoes were trapped every week statewide throughout the season by DEM staff and tested at the RI Department of Health (HEALTH) laboratory.

For online information about mosquito-borne diseases, go to DEM's website, www.state.dem.ri.gov, and click on "Public Health Updates", or go to the HEALTH website, www.health.ri.gov, and click on "E" (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) or "W" (West Nile Virus) under "Health Topics".