The most probable carrier of West Nile seems to be the common house mosquito, which is abundant in urban areas. Last year, the first time the virus appeared in the United States, seven people in the New York City area died from encephalitis caused by West Nile. This year, there have been three confirmed cases, all of them in New York and none of them fatal. So far this year, West Nile virus had been detected in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Maryland and New Jersey, Powell said, so it is not surprising that it would turn up in Rhode Island. Three New York City residents contracted the illness this summer and are expected to recover, the DEM said.
Stagnant water is often a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
No spraying will occur near open water or crops, Powell said. The spraying involves the use of the pesticide Sumithrin, which the DEM is supplying to Westerly, Middletown and Newport. The pesticides are also used in pet shampoos, flea sprays, and household insect sprays. Powell said Westerly has already done some mosquito sprayingbecause its many swamps make it attractive to mosquitoes. Yesterday's announcement came just a day after the DEM announced that its most recent series of mosquito tests showed no sign of the West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis viruses.