First human case of West Nile virus reported in RI. What to know.

PROVIDENCE – The state Department of Health has announced the first human case of West Nile virus in Rhode Island this year.

The person who tested positive is a resident of Newport County in their 70s who developed symptoms in August and is recovering, the Health Department said.

West Nile virus, an illness spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States, according to the Health Department and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

Most people infected with WNV do not feel sick, but about one in five people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About one out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness, they said.

Rhode Island has elevated risk of West Nile and EEE

In September, the state announced that Rhode Island's risk level for West Nile virus and the more severe Eastern Equine Encephalitis was high after mosquitoes tested positive for the diseases. Experts recommended that school and community sports programs adjust their schedules to reduce risk from the illnesses. EEE is rare, with only a few cases reported in the United States each year, but about 30% of people with EEE die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Health Department says the mosquito season won't end until the first hard frost, and there's still an increased level of EEE and WNV in mosquitoes this year in Rhode Island and the Northeast. Connecticut has confirmed four WNV cases in a human and Massachusetts has confirmed three human cases this year, according to the Health Department.

Where have West Nile and EEE been found in Rhode Island?

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Health Department have confirmed 13 WNV findings in mosquito samples from around Rhode Island as of last Friday: six in Westerly, two in Barrington, and one each in Central Falls, Cranston, Johnston, Richmond, and Tiverton, the Health Department said.

The Health Department's interim director, Utpala Bandy, said, "Mosquito season in Rhode Island is not over. People need to continue taking prevention measures through the first hard frost. The best way to prevent mosquito-borne diseases is to prevent mosquitoes from breeding and to avoid mosquito bites."

"Mosquitoes breed in water, so you should get rid of anything around your house and yard that collects water, such as tires, planters, and old trash cans or recycling bins," Bandy said. "You should use repellent, and also wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when you are outside, especially at sunrise and sunset."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Human case West Nile virus reported in Newport County RI resident