A Providence County resident in their 60s is the first probable human case of West Nile virus in Rhode Island this year, the state Department of Health announced Thursday.
The case will be confirmed through further testing by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Health officials did not disclose where the person was exposed, but said they began showing symptoms in early September and have remained hospitalized since.
The Rhode Island Department of Health’s announcement comes as the state’s risk level for mosquito-borne diseases remains high, with 13 mosquito samples testing positive for West Nile virus so far this season.
The first positive mosquito sample was collected in East Providence on July 21. The second positive sample came from Bristol on July 28. The most recent samples came from Johnston, East Providence, and Cranston on Aug. 28.
Mosquitoes in the latest samples collected on Sept. 15 tested negative for West Nile virus, along with other illnesses, including Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and Jamestown Canyon Virus.
West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne illness in the U.S. While most people infected never develop symptoms, about one in five experience West Nile fever, which can bring on headaches, body aches, and other flu-like symptoms.
In rare cases, West Nile virus can progress to serious neuroinvasive illnesses that involve encephalitis or meningitis. The CDC reports that about 10% of these severe infections are fatal, most often among people over age 60 or those who are immunocompromised.
As of Sept. 25, preliminary CDC data show 1,137 West Nile virus cases across the nation, with neuroinvasive illness involved in 742 of those cases. The virus has been recorded in 42 states so far this year.
Massachusetts has recorded eight human cases, according to data from its Department of Public Health. Connecticut has had two human cases confirmed by the CDC.
Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine have had no human cases so far this year, according to the CDC.
Rhode Island health officials remind residents to protect themselves against bites by wearing insect repellent, long sleeves, and pants, especially when mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk. Removing stagnant water from yards and outdoor areas reduces the number of places where mosquitoes can breed, and repairing holes in window or door screens can stop mosquitoes from entering the home.
Weekly mosquito testing data is posted to the Rhode Island Department of Health’s website. Additional prevention tips and resources are available at health.ri.gov/mosquito and dem.ri.gov/mosquito.
This story was originally published by the Rhode Island Current.
