PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island officials say a mosquito sample tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis in the latest rounds of tests.
The environmental management and health departments said Friday a sample trapped in Richmond, Rhode Island, tested positive. The state set traps last week and sent 114 samples to the state health laboratory.
The other samples tested negative for mosquito-borne diseases.
There have been three human cases of eastern equine encephalitis this year in Rhode Island, including one fatality, and detections in eight mosquito samples. There have been fatal cases in neighboring Massachusetts and Connecticut as well.
Rhode Island officials do not plan to do any additional aerial spraying this year. They encourage residents to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites until the first hard frost, which often occurs in October.
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