Media Release

For Immediate Release
Date: July 2, 2003
Contact: Robert Marshall, Ph.D. 222-1017

Holiday Health Advice: Avoid Mosquito Bites

The RI Department of Health (HEALTH) and Department of Environmental Management (DEM) remind all Rhode Islanders and out-of-state guests to avoid mosquito bites (and mosquito borne diseases) during the holiday weekend. Fireworks displays and other special outdoor events, such as family cookouts, often occur during the early evening hours when mosquitoes tend to bite. HEALTH recommends some easy steps to avoid mosquito bites.

• Wear cover-up clothing outside at sunrise and sunset (when mosquitoes bite)
• Use bug spray with DEET (30% or less)

HEALTH also recommends some ways to prevent mosquitoes from breeding around the home, such as:

• Getting rid of buckets, cans or anything around the house that collects standing water (where mosquitoes can breed)
• Clean rain gutters so they drain properly
• Remove water from old tires, boats, birdbaths, and pools; then cover them
• Fix window and door screens

Personal protection remains the first line of defense against mosquito-borne diseases. However, the state strategy, developed by HEALTH and DEM, involves several other important components such as using larvicide, mosquito testing and monitoring the human population.

Last year US health officials reported West Nile Virus in 44 states--including 4,156 human cases of the disease and 284 deaths. Rhode Island announced its first human West Nile Virus case in 2002. So far this year, 149 mosquito pools and 1 bird in Rhode Island tested negative for WNV.

For more information about WNV go to: www.HEALTH.ri.gov or www.state.ri.us/DEM