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PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is reporting a confirmed case of Jamestown Canyon Virus (JCV) in a Rhode Island resident. Laboratory testing confirming the diagnosis was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The person who tested positive was a resident of Washington County in his 50s who developed neurological symptoms and is now recovering. JCV is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.
JCV is a mosquito-borne pathogen that can be found widely in North America, especially in the Midwest and Northeast United States. The virus circulates primarily between deer and mosquitoes, but can also infect humans. Human cases can occur from late spring through mid-fall. People can be infected and not develop any symptoms, or only develop very mild symptoms. Early symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headaches, and fatigue. Rarely, more serious central nervous system disease, including meningitis or encephalitis, can occur. For more information on Jamestown Canyon Virus, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/jamestown-canyon/index.html.
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is announcing today that the most recent round of testing of mosquito samples by the RIDOH State Health Laboratories has confirmed no positive isolations (findings) of West Nile Virus (WNV) or Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). DEM collected 115 pools (samples) of mosquitoes from 29 traps set statewide on July 19. Results from the 105 pools collected on July 26 are pending. Connecticut Department of Public Health reported seven WNV isolations from seven mosquito pools collected in July, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported eight recent isolations of WNV in mosquito samples collected in July. This is expected at this time because mosquito-borne diseases become more prevalent as the summer season progresses. Thus far, neither Rhode Island, Massachusetts, nor Connecticut has reported any EEE findings.
WNV is much more prevalent than EEE. It became established in North America following its introduction in 1999. WNV will become more prevalent as the season progresses, so DEM and the RIDOH advise residents to reduce their exposure to mosquitoes until the first hard frost. (A hard frost is when the air and the ground freeze below 32°F for three hours or below 28°F for two hours.)
Personal protection is the first line of defense against mosquitoes that may carry WNV, EEE, or other diseases – and the most effective way to avoid infection. Residents are reminded to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds and prevent being bitten, whenever possible. The following precautions are advised:
Protect yourself
o Put screens on windows and doors. Fix screens that are loose or have holes.
o At sunrise and sundown (when mosquitoes that carry EEE are most active), consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning. If you must be outside, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and use bug spray.
o Use EPA-approved bug spray with one of the following active ingredients: DEET (20-30% strength); picaridin, IR3535; and oil of lemon eucalyptus or paramenthane. Always read the label and follow all directions and precautions.
o Do not use bug spray with DEET on infants under two months of age. Children should be careful not to rub their eyes after bug spray has been applied on their skin. Wash children’s hands with soap and water to remove any bug spray when they return indoors.
o Put mosquito netting over playpens and baby carriages.
Remove mosquito breeding grounds
o Remove items around your house and yard that collect water. Just one cup of water can produce hundreds of mosquitoes; an unused tire containing water can produce thousands of mosquitoes.
o Clean your gutters and downspouts so that they can drain properly.
o Remove any water from unused swimming pools, wading pools, boats, planters, trash and recycling bins, tires, and anything else that collects water, and cover them.
o Remove or treat any shallow water that can accumulate on top of a pool cover. Larvicide treatments, such as Mosquito Dunks can be applied to kill immature mosquitoes. This environmentally friendly product is available at many hardware and garden stores and online.
o Clean and change water in birdbaths at least once a week.
Best practices for horse owners
Horses are particularly susceptible to WNV and EEE. Horse owners are advised to vaccinate their animals early in the season and practice the following:
o Remove or cover areas where standing water can collect.
o Avoid putting animals outside at dawn, dusk, or during the night when mosquitoes are most active.
o Insect-proof facilities where possible and use approved repellents frequently.
o Monitor animals for symptoms of fever and/or neurological signs (such as stumbling, moodiness, loss of appetite) and report all suspicious cases to a veterinarian immediately. If you are unsure if your horse is properly vaccinated, you should consult with your veterinarian.
Visit health.ri.gov/mosquito for additional mosquito prevention tips, videos, and local data. Mosquitoes are trapped weekly by DEM and tested at the RIDOH State Health Laboratories. DEM issues advisories on test results from June through September, with additional reports as necessary. Typically, positive test results trigger additional trapping to assess risk.
For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow DEM on Facebook, Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) recommends closing Surfer’s Rock Area at Sachuest Point Beach in Middletown for swimming because of high bacteria levels. (The remainder of Sachuest Beach has acceptable water quality for swimming.) The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) also recommends closing Hazard’s Beach in Newport because of high bacteria levels.
RIDOH will continue to monitor and review beach water quality through Labor Day. The status of a beach may change as new data become available. The most up-to-date beach information is available through a recorded message on RIDOH’s beaches telephone line (401-222-2751). A list of closed beaches can also be accessed at health.ri.gov.

PROVIDENCE, RI – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) are advising the public that a Great Black-Backed Gull that was found seriously ill on a beach in South Kingstown on June 23 has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The wildlife officials also are announcing that the dead Shearwaters recently found on Rhode Island beaches that were tested for HPAI came back negative. Following up on their advisory last month, they recommend that the public stays clear of sick or dead birds on seashores and reports any cases of waterbird deaths to the Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife by clicking here.
A relatively small number of waterbirds such as Cormorants, Gulls, Shearwaters, and Terns washing up dead on beaches is normal in the summer, but in the past six weeks multiple locations along the Atlantic Coast, including Rhode Island, have seen higher than usual numbers. DEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, which is collecting reports from the public, currently counts 40 dead waterbirds reported this summer, excluding the separate mortality event of Shearwaters that is now thought to be unrelated to HPAI. Wildlife biologists advise, however, that reports coming in from the public tend to be underestimated, especially if there is not a large die-off of birds.
While risk of HPAI to humans is low, the public is urged not to touch dead birds and to keep dogs on leashes and away from carcasses. State, federal, and non-government conservation organizations are continuing to collaborate to test a sample of specimens and are actively monitoring beaches. RIDEM, USFWS, and partners will keep the public updated with any further developments.
“Avian influenza refers to disease in birds caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses,” states the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC site continues: “Avian influenza A viruses have been isolated from more than 100 different species of wild birds around the world. These viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.”
Avian influenza occurs in both low and high pathogenic forms, which refer to the severity of the disease and how likely it is to result in death of poultry. Most avian influenzas are low pathogenic and cause minimal death and disease to infected birds. In 2020, a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus emerged in Europe and Central Asia and spread to North America in December 2021. The last outbreak of HPAI in the United States was in 2017. HPAI causes high mortality rates in poultry and has severely affected nesting seabirds in Europe. Since its arrival in North America, HPAI has been detected in the United States and Canada. Conservation organizations are particularly concerned about the potential for outbreaks to jeopardize imperiled waterbird species with already small populations such as Piping Plovers, Red Knots, and Roseate Terns. HPAI also can affect mammals, and a recent seal die-off in Maine has been attributed to the virus. Symptoms of infected birds can include neurological issues such as imbalance, inability to fly, and respiratory distress.
What the public can do:
HPAI continues to be a risk for domestic and wild birds. People with poultry/backyard flocks should disinfect shoes/boots before visiting and coming back from beaches, parks, and refuges. For more information on HPAI including FAQs, click here. If a dead bird is found, you can report the siting to the Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife by clicking here.

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI – Governor Dan McKee joined the Quonset Development Corporation and state and local officials on Tuesday morning to cut the ribbon on the modernized Pier 2 at Quonset’s Port of Davisville.
The $83.1 million expansion and modernization will extend the life of the Pier by 50 years and was completed $7 million under budget. The project was funded by a bond approved by Rhode Island voters in 2016, Quonset port users and the QDC itself. By extending Pier 2 by 232 feet, creating a third berthing space and dredging the port to accommodate larger ships, the expansion will allow Davisville to continue its auto import success and prepare for future wind energy projects.
“Quonset’s Port of Davisville is a tangible example of Rhode Island’s economic momentum and investing in Quonset is investing in good paying Rhode Island jobs,” said Governor McKee. “I’m proud to cut the ribbon at Pier 2 and I’m looking forward to seeing the new $60 million investment my Administration secured in this year’s budget to ensure Quonset continues to be an economic driver for the state, positioning us to continue leading the nation in the race for offshore wind.”
As offshore wind developers pursue federal permits for construction off the New England coast, Rhode Island needs to continue preparing to accommodate increased activity. That’s why the FY23 budget that Governor McKee recently signed makes a $60 million infrastructure investment in the Port of Davisville enabling the construction of Terminal 5 Pier and completion of required dredging; preparation of about 34 acres to accommodate additional cargo laydown; and reconstruction and hardening of the existing surface of Pier 1. Together, these investments will accommodate the existing finished automobile importing and processing businesses that call the facility home, while expanding capacity specifically for the offshore wind developers.
The Quonset Business Park is a major driver of the state’s economy with more than 200 companies employing more than 12,000 people at the Business Park. Since 2005, nearly $3 billion in private investment has been made at Quonset. Today, one of six manufacturing jobs in Rhode Island is at Quonset. The Business Park also generates $1.3 billion in income annually for Rhode Island families, as well as $136 million in state and local taxes and PILOT payments.
The state’s only public port, Davisville supports nearly 1,700 direct jobs. Quonset’s Port of Davisville is one of the top 10 auto importers in North America and berths hundreds of ships per year.
“The Port of Davisville is one of Rhode Island’s top economic assets,” said House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi. “The newest expansion of Pier 2 will create more jobs and allow more imports for decades to come. We are grateful to Steve King and the Quonset team’s dedicated work that positions Rhode Island to be a leader in wind energy.”
“The Port of Davisville is a global gateway to New England and an irreplaceable resource for Rhode Island. The expanded and modernized Pier 2 will position the Port as an even greater catalyst for economic growth in the decades to come, creating jobs and boosting a number of critical industries. As we position our state to be a 21st-century leader in the blue economy, this investment in our infrastructure is more essential than ever. I’m grateful to Steve King and his team for their incredible work at Quonset,” said Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio.
“The Pier 2 upgrades position Quonset to become a hub for the offshore wind industry, and the new berth creates an opportunity for more ships, jobs and revenue.” said Steven J. King, Managing Director of the Quonset Development Corporation. “Thank you to Governor McKee and our partners in state and local government for their continued support and investment in infrastructure at Quonset.”
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