Around New England

Rhode Island Sees First Positive Easter Equine Encephalitis Cases

September 4, 2020

Eastern equine encephalitis is back in Rhode Island this year.

The state tested mosquitos in Chapman swamp in Westerly in late August and found some of them tested positive for the virus, as CBS Boston reported earlier this week.

So far, there haven’t been any human cases of EEE in Rhode Island. Last year, there were three and they resulted in one death. In Massachusetts, however, there have been three human cases so far this year.

To prevent against the threat of EEE, the state reportedly recommends that people wear long sleeves when conducting outdoor activity between dusk and dawn or to avoid outdoor activity altogether.