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September 5, 2007

W. Nile virus found in 2 East Bay mosquito pools

Mosquito samples in East Providence and Barrington have tested positive for the West Nile Virus, the state Department of Environmental Management announced today.

The samples were collected the week of Aug. 28 and the results were confirmed this afternoon.

The DEM says that although many mosquito species bite only birds, the Culex species that tested positive in East Providence and Barrington also bite people.

It's the height of the mosquito-borne diseases transmission season and therefore transmitting the disease is more likely, the DEM says.

"The positive test results do not mean that there is more risk in the East Bay than in any other area, since West Nile is found throughout the state, neighboring states, and, indeed, throughout the whole country," Alan Gettman, the DEM mosquito abatement coordinator, said in the statement.

It is the third mosquito pool taken from the southern section of East Providence -- near the Seekonk, Mass., border -- to test positive for the virus.

The DEM will set extra mosquito traps in the vicinity of where the positive samples were found.

Results from an additional 108 mosquito pools from the week of Aug. 28 are pending.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 4:50 PM | Permalink

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