Westerly schools take EEE precautions

WESTERLY, R.I. (WPRI) - The Westerly School Committee is cancelling or rescheduling all outdoor evening events, after mosquitoes tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).

The infected mosquito pool was trapped at Chapman Swamp.  It's the first positive test for EEE in Rhode Island this year.

Westerly Superintendent Roy Seitsinger says teachers and coaches will encourage students to apply bug spray and wear long sleeves and pants when they return to school next week.

"The department of health calls it smart scheduling. We just have to be prudent and smart about what we're wearing and how we're protecting ourselves, both students and adults."

Seitsinger says the Westerly School Committee will also consider pushing back school bus pick-up times, but he believes that is unlikely.

Mosquito pools have also tested positive for EEE in Southeastern Massachusetts and Connecticut, and there have been two human cases of EEE in Massachusetts this year.  One of the victims is a Rhode Island man who infected while in Bristol County, Massachusetts.  The other is from Middleboro.