Media Release

FOR: Immediate Release
DATE: July 2, 1998
CONTACT: Robert Ballou, 401 222-4700 (Environment) or Richard Bolig, 401 222-2901 (HEALTH)

State Sets Strategy to Reduce Risk of EEE Infection

Providence, Rhode Island. The Department of Environmental Management’s EEE Advisory Committee met at 2:00 p.m. today to assess the state’s mosquito control program and action steps in view of the recent death of a Rhode Islander from Eastern equine encephalitis. The Committee is made up of staff from DEM, the R.I. Department of Health, and scientists from the University of Rhode Island who have expertise in the behavior and characteristics of mosquitoes.

Since yesterday’s confirmation of EEE as the cause of death of Harry T. Marsocci, efforts are continuing to determine Mr. Marsocci’s whereabouts for the two weeks prior to the onset of infection. This is to help determine where additional mosquito surveillance should be conducted.

DEM Director Andrew H. McLeod and DOH Director Dr. Patricia A. Nolan summarized the state’s strategy to decrease the risk of further EEE infection in Rhode Island:

• Urge Rhode Islanders to take preventive steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. DEM and DOH will continue to advocate, through media contacts, distributed literature, postings in parks and campsites, and their respective web sites (DOH site listed below; EEE site: www.uri.edu/research.eee) for personal responsibility to minimize getting bitten. Steps include being especially careful to avoid mosquitoes at dawn and dusk, when most biting occurs; using mosquito repellent, wearing protective clothes, repairing torn window and door screens, and eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed.
• Plan aggressively for local preparedness to combat mosquitoes. Systematic mosquito breeding control at the community level will greatly reduce the number of mosquitoes which can put people at risk. DEM is scheduling the season’s second workshop for the week of July 13 for all cities and towns to advise and instruct them in local mosquito abatement methods, including larval control. DEM will also continue to provide hands-on technical assistance to cities and towns that are in need of such assistance.
• Increase statewide mosquito surveillance. Today, additional traps are being placed in Richmond and West Warwick, to augment the existing trap locations in DEM’s mosquito abatement program. If any locations show greater-than-expected numbers of mosquitoes, further concentrated testing will be done, and enhanced interventions will be considered accordingly.

In addition, DOH has alerted the state’s physicians to the clinical signs for suspected EEE, and has increased its communications with hospitals in surveillance for EEE.

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Department of Health Website: www.health.state.ri.us