EEE found in mosquito in Tiverton

TIVERTON, R.I. - A mosquito trapped in central Tiverton has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

It's the first time this year that EEE has been positively identified in Rhode Island.

The Department of Environmental Management say the case was from a Culiseta species that feeds almost exclusively on birds.

The positive case came from a mosquito pool in Tiverton tested on August 6.

"It was not surprising to find the positive EEE sample at this time of year. The positive result is confirmation that there are infected mosquitoes in the environment," said Alan Gettman, Ph.D., DEM's mosquito abatement coordinator.

Gettman reminds all Rhode Islanders to take extra care when it comes to protecting themselves, particularly when mosquito-biting activity is high.

This year, two pools of mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile Virus, in Westerly and Pawtucket.