PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces that test results from all 31 mosquito pools, or samples, from 24 traps set statewide on September 22 are confirmed negative for both West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). Due to negligible numbers of mosquitoes collected throughout the month of September, no traps have been set since the September 22 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, WNV was detected in two mosquito samples, both of which were collected in South Kingstown. EEE was not detected in mosquitoes trapped in Rhode Island this year.
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. 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."