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9.18.2000 00:34
EEE
virus
found
in R.I.
again
 The virus, found in a sparrow in Narragansett, is sometimes deadly but extremely uncommon in humans, DEM officials say.
By PAUL DAVIS
Journal Staff Writer
NARRAGANSETT
-- A sparrow found here last week was infected with Eastern equine encephalitis, a deadly virus limited largely to mosquitoes that bite birds.
Because the disease is rarely transmitted to humans, the state Department of Environmental Management yesterday said the virus does not represent a threat to South County residents.
Nevertheless, the DEM said it will beef up surveillance of the area and place extra traps in Narragansett and South Kingstown.
The bird, found Wednesday near Palm Beach Avenue in Narragansett, was tested Saturday night at the University of Rhode Island's Mosquito Virus Testing Laboratory.
The latest discovery of Eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE, comes amid a growing concern that another mosquito-borne virus, the West Nile virus, has probably spread to all of New England.
The West Nile virus grows in birds and can be transmitted to humans by mosquitoes.
The EEE virus, on the other hand, is normally limited to mosquitoes that don't bite humans. And even when they do, EEE is "much less readily transmitted to a human .
.
. than is West Nile virus," according to the DEM.
Early this month, the EEE virus killed two emus in Rehoboth. Last month, a blue jay infected with EEE was found in North Providence, near the intersection of Route 146 and Mineral Spring Avenue.
Yesterday, the DEM again urged residents to take precautions against mosquito bites and to rid their yards of standing water.
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