EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Islanders are urged to continue protecting themselves against mosquitoes after West Nile virus was detected in two communities.
The R.I. Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced Friday that mosquitoes collected from traps set in East Providence and Westerly tested positive for the virus.
The DEM and the R.I. Department of Health said the entire state is now at high risk and issued a heightened public health warning due to the active mosquito season.
Earlier this week, the state announced the state’s first human case of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in five years, along with a new case of West Nile virus.
EEE, West Nile virus: The symptoms and how to protect yourself
West Nile has been detected nine times so far in Rhode Island, while EEE has been found 17 times. Both viruses have been detected dozens of times in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Sports leagues and other outdoor activities are advised to continue practicing “smart scheduling” to reduce the risk of exposure. That means moving events indoors or rescheduling them outside of peak biting hours.