PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Health and environmental officials are warning Rhode Islanders that the risk of mosquito-borne diseases remains high statewide.
On Thursday, the state reported two new cases of West Nile virus. One is confirmed, officials said, while the other is considered probable. Both are Providence County residents in their 70s.
The state has now had two confirmed and two probable cases of West Nile virus so far this year, along with its first confirmed case of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) since 2019.
EEE, West Nile virus: The symptoms and how to protect yourself
In addition, the state said the last round of mosquito trapping and testing produced a positive sample collected in Westerly earlier this month.
So far this season, there have been 17 EEE findings and 14 West Nile virus findings in Rhode Island, according to the R.I. Department of Environmental Management (DEM). There have also been dozens of findings across Massachusetts and Connecticut, including in some border communities.